Networker We Care

Networker We care. We share. We all gain.

Issue 6, 6 August 2007

August is Membership Month Table of Contents August is Membership Month . . . 1 The Superheroes The Superheroes ...... 1 Mel Gray’s Membership Corner . . 2 For over 100 years, Rotary’s superhero has been the individual member. Before You Throw It Out… ....3 Kevin, the gas fitter, turned to the cardiologist and said, “I think you’re wrong New Members ...... 4 Jack. But let’s try it your way first. We’ll never know otherwise.” Jack smiled 40+ Rotarian ...... 4 and nodded. “What about you, Mary?” he asked. Mary exhaled, “Well, as you know, I run a large canteen and know a bit about keeping costs down. Notices & Events ...... 6 I’m happy to give Jack’s idea a go.” The Reverend Peter looked skywards, The Erina Essay Competition . . . 7 “I’m a bit committed on Sunday morning … comes with the job … but I’m ready to roll up my sleeves and help after lunch.” In The Media ...... 8 “You could drop a kilo or two, Shane,” said Police Sergeant John, “you could Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar . . 9 have the property sold by 2 o’clock and still get three hours work done.” Murder In The Pulpit… ...... 9 Shane patted his paunch, “You’re right, being an auctioneer is exciting, but it doesn’t produce a chiselled body!” “They don’t make chisels that big”, said New Rotarian ...... 10 Jack. Featured Club ...... 11 Light-hearted banter from a group of Rotarians who know each other and How’s Your Club Shaping Up? . . 13 get on very well. Different vocations … a common goal … meeting to dis- cuss their plan. It could be anywhere - a Rotary sub-committee, or even board members, doing what Rotary does brilliantly. “Does” is the operative word, because Rotarians are doers. The group here illustrates Rotary’s greatest strength - the individual member. The individual member comes to the club with a history, a vocation and, most importantly, a personality. He or she brings a fresh perspective and unique set of ideas to the club. What a fabulous resource! The illustration touches on a few points, but mainly it celebrates diversity. In- dividual members, old and new, bring a range of attitudes and possibilities to the Rotary Club environment. The individual member is our lifeblood. In Rotary we need to be constantly aware of the need to renew our values and our people. We need new members - we need their enthusiasm and drive. August is Membership Month and more members are required to continue and expand the projects of Rotary. A new member is a wonderful multi-fac- eted addition to every club. They bring their time, energy, families, skills and personalities. The individual member … the single Rotarian … can move mountains. In their infancy, great ideas are usually the brainchild of one person. The unique structure and the diversity of Rotary mean that great ideas can become a reality. A new Rotarian who is seized by the possibilities afforded by Rotary is a tremendous asset. Suddenly, there is one more person - the individual member - who, through Rotary’s ability to deliver, will have a capacity to offer support, inspiration, healing, dignity, hope and a future to people in near communities and around the world.

Nothing is as fatiguing as eternally putting off the unfinished task. Get on with whatever it is that you must do! Wes Truscott, 2007

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I would therefore ask each club in our District this month, Membership Month, to induct at least one new member or approach at least 5 potential members to join their club. New members bring new life and vitality to a club, they are the future of Rotary for without new members, nothing else matters. Because however good our work, however valuable and vital it may be, without new members it will only take a few decades for Rotary to disappear. At San Diego, Rotary President Wilf Wilkinson asked each incoming District Governor to bring in one new member in their year of office, and I am pleased to report I have filled this request. The second part of President Wilf’s message was for each Governor to ask Club Presidents to bring in one new member in their year of office, and so I re issue this challenge to all Club Presidents in 2007-8. I have your sponsor pin waiting. Furthermore, the strength of our clubs stems from the dedication, commitment and enthusiasm of their members in achieving the objectives that each club sets itself at the start of each Rotary year. Therefore, I ask Rotarians in our Dis- trict who have not been able to contribute to their club’s activities as much as they would have liked to recently, to re- commit to Rotary and your club over the next few months. Remember, your non-participation and non-attendance at club meetings limits the capacity of your club to help others. Also, the members of your club miss the regular contact they should be having with you each week …. and for good reason … Rotarians are really nice people to get to know! John Davis, District Governor Mel Gray’s Membership Corner

As you are all aware, August is Membership Month. The following letter from RI President Wilfrid J Wilkinson encapsu- lates the meaning of what we do as Rotarians, and the gift you can share with others in asking them to join Rotary. “Dear Fellow Rotarians In Rotary, August is the month we set aside to focus on membership. It’s appropriate that this time occurs at the beginning of the Ro- tary year, because everything that happens in Rotary begins with membership. When I speak at Rotary gatherings, I often tell the story of how I was invited into the organisation. I was new in my town of Trenton, Ont., Canada, and my wife, Joan, and I hadn’t yet met many people. We were active in our church and in the Boy Scouts, so it probably would have just been a matter of time before we were asked to join a service group. And as it happened, I was invited to a Rotary club meeting. Mel Gray and his wife Rotary seemed like a good place for someone like me to meet like-minded people. I talked about it with Joan, and we both thought it could lead to some new friends, and possibly a good chance to do some worthwhile community service. I thought I might even attract some new clients to my fledgling accounting practice. So, when I was invited to join, I did. Now, 45 years later, that decision has shaped our lives. I thought I was joining a club. Really, I was joining one part of an organisation that strengthens communities, improves health, creates possibilities, saves lives, and makes the world better in too many ways to count, every single day. So many things I’ve seen as a Rotary leader have made me proud to be a Rotarian. But I know that being proud is not sufficient. We must share our pride with colleagues, friends, and family members, and we must seek out qualified men and women whom we’ll be proud to see as Rotarians. A new generation of Rotarians is essential to every club, and to Rotary. In some parts of the world, our clubs are thriving, and new ones are forming. But in others, clubs are aging and doing little to attract new members. As members leave, there is no one to replace them – and when a club disappears, there is no one to take on the world that’s left un- done. All of us know that when we ask someone to join Rotary, we are not imposing a burden. We are giving a gift. We are sharing with another person the wonderful, amazing force that is Rotary, just as Rotary Shares with us.

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So I urge each of you, this very week, as proud Rotarians, to share Rotary with a qualified individual. Submit the name of at least one prospective member, and if approved, ask that person to join – just as someone did for me, and just as someone did for you.” Wilfrid J. (Wilf) Wilkinson President, Rotary International Recruiting new members is critical to our future. It is also one of the easiest things to do as a Rotarian. What could be simpler than inviting someone to your club’s next meeting? For further information on Membership, visit our District website, or email Mel at [email protected] Before You Throw It Out…

10 Tips For Donating A Computer

pdating your PC, as for any new equipment, generally means that your ‘preloved’ PC has become obsolete for Uyour purposes, and has to be disposed of. What will you do with it? There are good reasons why finding the appropriate way to discard old computer equipment is important. In the U.S., some 63.3 million computer desktops are superceded in one year alone. According to the National Safety Council and the EPA, 85% of them will end up in landfills across the country, constituting an ever-growing environmental haz- ard. In Australia, the situation is similar though on a smaller scale. Each computer unnecessarily dumped in a landfill is a missed opportunity to provide people affected by the digi- tal divide with tools to participate in the Information Age.

How to donate your old Computers or Laptops - Pentium III or IV level & equipment 1. Determine if your old computer can be re-used. If you have a computer that is less then five years old, chances are that our Rotary Computers 4 Kids will be very happy to accept it. Refurbishments usually work with newer disposed equipment, such as Pentium-level 3 or 4 computers and laptops with a CD drive so that they can run reasonably current software and Internet programs. Cables, leads and monitors that still work are useful, but if the computer is more than five or six years old, it will probably be best to send it to a recycler for environmentally safe disposal. Recyclers are businesses or organisations that remove useful parts and then break down the rest of the materials. This also includes the safe removal of hazardous materials. (Note: Some of these organisations may charge a fee to accept old PC's and equipment for recycling, especially computer monitors). For listings of recyclers, see the Yellow Pages or try your local council. Some councils have free hard rubbish collection centres but some charge for disposal. Alternatively, TAFE colleges may have courses in recycling and will be happy to accept them for practical teaching experience, or they may be useful to cover some of their costs by sale of scrap to recyclers. 2. Remember the accessories when you donate your ‘preloved’ PC or laptop. The keyboard, mouse, printer, modem, packaged original software or any of your about-to-be-retired PC's accessories or cables may be quite usable. They can usually be put to good use; but can often be prohibitively expensive to buy as spare parts. 3. If possible, keep the operating system intact. If you are donating hardware with a pre-installed Microsoft operating system, the license is only valid when used on the original OEM machine for which it was installed. Whenever possible please pass on the licence for the operating system original software and handbooks with the donated computers. 4. Provide original disks, cd’s and documentation if possible. if possible. It's helpful to have the original discs, media and documentation that came with the PC when it was purchased. Include the proof of license, which will help ensure the legal transfer of the operating system.

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5. Delete personal information. For security and privacy reasons, data files are deleted, either by you or through the project, including email, personal or business records, documents and files, etc. 6. PC delivery instructions: Organise a time and place to drop off your equipment or arrange for pickup/delivery. 7. Keep a list of what you donated for your records. Remember that the tax season is always right around the corner. Your tax advisor can determine what donations may be deductible. Ask for a receipt for tax purposes if the PC to be donated has a residual value on your books when you write it off. It could be also used as a Donation In Kind to charity. 8. Plan ahead for future donations! Why not organise and label a box to store the documents that came with the new PC. When the time comes around to donate your ‘preloved’ PC, everything will be intact, dust-free and in one place. Contact Dawn Watson on 9337 4710 or at [email protected] for more information regarding the Rotary D9800 Vocational Service Computers 4 Kids & Community. New Members

Each week we’ll endeavour to list new members as we get to hear about them. Ian Henry, Rotary Club of Albert Park, Classification: Unknown Elleni Bereded-Samuel, Rotary Club of Footscray, Classification: Community Services Jennifer Lees, Rotary Club of Footscray, Classification: Tertiary Education Margaret Cumming, Rotary Club of Footscray, Classification: Homewares Retailing Andrew Bridson Green, Rotary Club of West Footscray, Classification: Photographic Artist

40+ Rotarian ’m certainly getting to know the Calder Highway and I’m really appreciating the beautiful area that falls within the Ibounds of District 9800. Last week I headed to Eaglehawk and caught up with The Rotary Club of Eaglehawk’s remaining charter member – Roy Parker. Roy is in his eightieth year and has held the Club’s treasury post on 15 separate occasions. Except for being the secretary, Roy has held every other position in the Club. Roy was made a Paul Harris fellow in 1994 and then Sapphire in 2005. I caught up the man who was there when it all began for the RC of Eaglehawk on 8 August 1966.

C: How did you become involved with Rotary? RP: The Rotary Club of Bendigo decided to investigate the chartering of a Club in Eaglehawk. I, along with others, attended a meeting where it was decided to proceed and I was invited to become a Charter Member. C: What is the biggest project you’ve been involved with as a Rotarian? RP: I was requested to become the Accommodation Officer when our club hosted the District Confer- ence in Ballarat in February 1993. Interesting time … most people were very easy to deal with, but we did get a few who believed that their preferred accommodation was the most important thing at the conference. C: Of all the events in history, which one would you like Eaglehawk, 1968. Photograph courtesy Richard Felstead. to have witnessed? RP: The invention of the first motorised vehicle. C: What is the biggest change in Rotary that you’ve seen?

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RP: There are three: first the change in the Classification system which is more person-directed than vocation-directed; second the dress code at meetings. I came from an era when it was strictly ‘suit and tie’. Actually, about six of us at Eaglehawk are sticklers for the ‘old way’. And, of course, thirdly the introduction of female membership to Rotary – very significant. C: Tell me about an exciting or unusual event that you’ve been involved with? RP: I went for a month on a light plane trip around the northern and western parts of Australia. We went to Darwin and then came down the west coast via Carnarvon and Perth. When we finally started to head east and struck engine problems. The plane had to land on an old war airstrip. The plane was actually in bad mechanical shape. I wasn’t happy and left the group and I started walking east with my bag and an apple. Finally, I was picked by three drunk blokes in a ute full beer. After getting to Kalgoorlie, I got a plane back to Melbourne. I had to get back — I was being inducted as President of Eaglehawk Rotary Club a few days later!! C: What do you particularly enjoy about the Eaglehawk Rotary Club? RP: The fellowship. C: You are the remaining charter member at Eaglehawk. Tell me about some of the interesting and inspirational characters you’ve seen at the club. RP: There were a number …our Charter President, Arch Vincent, who worked particularly hard, along with the Board, in the formation of the Club. Others include Gordon McKern who was District Governor in 1992/93, and Bill O’Brien who was also a Charter Member acting as Sergeant on many occasions and author of a joke book which was distributed to all District 9800 clubs. C: What are your passions outside of Rotary? RP: The restoration of old British and American motorcycles. I get them as wrecks and build them back to original condition … and, in some cases, better than original condition. C: Why is being a Rotarian special to you? RP: It gives me the opportunity to help others who are less fortunate than me. C: When you were a lad wine was called ‘plonk’. Bendigo now has a thriving wine industry. Have you embraced the new direction or does a cold beer still rate as the best drink after a hard day’s work? RP: I enjoy the “plonk” as you call it but also enjoy a beer occasionally. C: As an electrical contractor in the Bendigo area for 50 years, you’ve seen enormous changes and been involved in some big contracts. What was the most interesting – or the strangest? RP: All contracts are interesting and a challenge whether they be hospitals, schools or heavy industrial – probably the most interesting was the diversity of the facility that is now called the Bendigo Latrobe University. C: Complete the following: Life is … RP: …what you make of it - great. C: My secret talent is … RP: …working with my hands and brain. C: The way to my heart is… RP: …good food followed by a good red wine (Not plonk –C) C: Iam… RP: …a very happy person of 79 years of age and in good health (I hope!) C: Rotary is… RP: …the means of providing an opportunity to help others. C: Rotarians are… RP: …dependable and good friends who form a very large part of my life. A few more laughs, a few more stories (Roy’s got plenty) and I was back on the highway. As I looked at the wide ex- panse of road and country I thought of Roy out on the Nullabor with his apple, hitchhiking his way back to the Eaglehawk presidency. Chairman Mao and his Great March came to mind. Hmmm … what a double, Mao and Roy … the only two men I know of who Quip Corner have hit the road and finished the journey as presidents. As I said before, I never repeat myself.

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Notices & Events

District Foundation Seminar

istrict Foundation Committee Chairperson, Chris Don, invites all Presidents, Presidents-Elect, Foundation DChairpersons, International Chairpersons and new Rotarians to our 2007 District Foundation seminar and workshop.

All aspects of our District’s Foundation programs will be covered by the District Committee Chairperson and Regional Zone Executives. Active participation from delegates will be encouraged. This will be held on 23 September from 9:30am to 12:30pm at International House, Royal Parade, Carlton. Contact Chris Don on 03 9312 6933 or via email on [email protected].

The Bayside Art Show

With a gala opening night on 9 August in the Brighton Town Hall, the Bayside Art Show promises to be yet another exceptional event for the Rotary Club of Brighton. Over 800 works will be displayed and the prizes are up to $7,500. A door prize of $1,000 is also featured. More information and online bookings are available on www.thebaysideartshow.com.au.

Australian Rotary Health Research Fund

ARHRF-funded research leads to $640,000 NHMRC grant Professor George Patton and a team from the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute have received $640,000 from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) to continue a world-first study which will examine how mental health (and illness) is transmitted from one generation to the next. The researchers are following up children born to subjects in the Victorian Adolescent Health Cohort. This was a landmark longitudinal study which followed the health and wellbeing of around 2000 adolescents from the age of 14 to the age of 28 (from 1992 to 2006). The research involves interviews of parents (during pregnancy and beyond), pre-school teachers and the children themselves, as well as collection of DNA and perinatal data. It is expected that over the next decade around 2200 children will be recruited to the project. The researchers are looking at how to break intergenerational cycles of mental disorder through looking at genetic and environmental influences and how these interact. Thanks to ARHRF funding, interviews and DNA collection are well under way and several of the major research tools have been designed. The research team are very grateful to the ARHRF and Rotary for their assistance, which put their project in a strong position to be considered for the NHMRC funding. “Without the ARHRF, this important research opportunity would have been missed”, said Patton. Donations to ARHRF are tax deductible and can be sent to: ARHRF, PO Box 779, Parramatta, NSW, 2124. Telephone 02 8837 1900 Email [email protected].

Public Relations Award

he Rotary Club of Kew has received the RI Public Relations Award for 2006-2007 for their outstanding media Tpromotion of their GardenFest project earlier this year. Past President Bill Boyd applauded the Club’s creative efforts saying they had enhanced Rotary’s image in the community.

A special presentation was made by PDG Bernie Walshe to President Fred Payne and Past President Mike McFarlane at the Club’s meeting last week.

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International House 50th Anniversary Dinner

dinner to celebrate this special event will be held at Albert by the Lake, Aughtie Drive, Albert Park on Saturday, 25 AAugust 2007 commencing at 7.00pm. Tickets are $80.00 per person and this includes a three course meal with beverages. Guest Speakers will include the Governor of Victoria, Professor David de Kretser A.C. Bookings can be made at International House or by phoning 9347 6655. This is a special invitation for Rotarians to join the Alumni in celebrating this great event.

Meeting Time Change

lease note that the Rotary Club of Camberwell have changed their meeting time to 6.15 for 6.30 pm. Venue and Pday of meeting remains unchanged.

RAWCS Seminars

he Rotary Club of Erina, NSW, conducted an essay competition late last year. This winning entry was by Caroline TRhodes

Classification was nothing new When Rotary was founded by Paul Harris in 1905, he believed that the idea of basing a fellowship on a vocational classification was unique, but his initiative had been predated by a couple of hundred years. Many would say that there is never anything new in human affairs, that new ideas are merely old ones clothed in the fashion of the times. Right now, though, we stand on the edge of times that a growing number are describing as the end of days. What is different from anything that has gone before is not that the earth is warming and the icecaps melting, nor that God in all his guises is being used as a vehicle for men’s agendas, for these things have happened many times. The profound and incalculable difference is the size, vigour and relative affluence of the western world’s rapidly-ageing population. In 1900 the average lifespan in the United States, for example, was 47.3 years. By 1950 it had increased to 68.2 years. By 2040 the number of people in the United States who are more than 85 years of age is expected to quadruple.

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In living longer, people in developed countries are living better and at a time of retirement from paid employment many (perhaps most) are vigorous, healthy human beings with much to offer our world – and Rotary – for they have one of the greatest resources the 21st century has to offer – time to do with as they please. In the past this group of people has been stereotyped as bowls-playing, coathanger-crocheting old folk who are querulous consumers of care rather than vital contributors to society. Indeed, it is now being realised that retirement homes’ predictions of death-created vacancies are seriously flawed and many of these institutions have to rethink their financial future, for relied-upon residual benefits are not forthcom- ing, people are living longer than expected. As a society we need to rethink the old folk stereotype. As an organisation that relies on people giving their time, it not only makes sense for Rotary to target retired people as members, it behoves us to celebrate this under-utilised under-appreciated resource, for time is the currency of the 21st century. Those pursuing careers, commuting, raising families, maintaining homes and servicing mortgages, have little time to spare. Paradoxically, the numbers of those who have more time than they know what to do with are exploding, for the baby boomers are becoming a certain age. Rotary leads the way in so many areas. Raising the status of retired people by embracing their life skills and professional know-how, their wisdom and available time, is an initiative that leads the way toward a better world for them and therefore others. In his film, An Inconvenient Truth, Al Gore said that following a near-tragedy in his family he needed to find another way to be in the world. Many retired people would say that they are searching for exactly that, but that society does not give too many opportunities to do so. Rotary can fill the void. Many women embrace retirement with joy. Caring for a family, juggling a career and commitments have taught them to grab whatever time is available for their own pursuits with vigour. Welcoming what older people have to offer, as opposed to the general culture of pursuing that which is callow, can lead Rotary into the next 100 years with a degree of wisdom never known on our planet, for while those who slay drag- ons are invariably young, the mentors who guide them never are. In daring to dream of a world without polio, Rotary is making it happen. In going beyond stereotypes and harnessing thousands upon thousands of lifetimes tempered by experience, Rotary may even save the world from the end of days. Time is of the essence in more ways than one. In The Media

Financial Times Gives Rotary International Top Ranking

The Financial Times has ranked Rotary International one of the top five non-governmental organizations (NGOs) for corporate partnerships. In the newspaper’s special supplement, Corporate Citizenship and Philanthropy, Rotary came in fifth in the global rankings of 34 finalists. Published in conjunction with the UN Global Compact Leaders Summit held 5-6 July in Geneva, the supplement reached some 1.4 million senior business executives, industry and government leaders, and private/institutional in- vestors across 140 countries. The summit, which was chaired by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, featured an international roster of business leaders, government ministers, and heads of civil society and focussed on such key challenges to building future markets as human rights and climate change. RI Director Bernard Rosen of Belgium rep- resented RI President Wilfrid J. Wilkinson at the event. UN Global Compact and Dalberg Global Development Advisors, who developed the report in preparation for the summit, surveyed 20,000 companies worldwide, identifying 550 NGOs, UN agencies, foundations, and other organisations with which companies had partnered, and profiled 85 of those based on company ratings. Organisations that ranked higher than Rotary International showcased long-standing partnerships with corporations. Because Rotary International's global partnerships include only UN agencies and other nonprofit organisations - and only Rotary clubs and districts have partnered with corporations to date – the organisation’s ranking should be consid-

Rotary District 9800 Issue 6, 6 August 2007 Page 8 Networker We care. We share. We all gain. ered exemplary. Rotary International has a long and distinguished history of collaborating with other organisations in the name of humanitarian service. Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar Dear Rotary & Rotaract Clubs I would like to introduce myself to you and the Rotary District 9800 as your Ambassadorial Scholar for 2007/2008. My name is Maria-Annika Voigt. I am from a town named Bielefeld in Western Germany which is situated between Hanover and Cologne. I am doing a Master of Teaching in my final semester at Bielefeld University in Germany to become a secondary teacher for English and Social Science. I am especially interested in bilingual and immersion education. Here in Australia I specialise in bilingual education (mainly German-English) with a Postgraduate Diploma in Education from Monash University. I hope to work at a bilingual or international school in the near future. Deutsche Schule Melbourne (a German International School) will offer a bilingual and bicultural education in English and Ger- man (opening 2008) and I am extremely interested in getting to know their concept. In the occupational field of a teacher or a person who interacts with people, experiences in different countries and with other cultures will help me to experience different teaching methods that could be adapted to the German school system. Apart from these practical considerations, I look forward to getting to know another country along with its cultural differences. My plans of study support the aims of the Rotary Foundation, as teaching and exploring bilingual education helps to encourage international understanding and work for peace. In this spirit, education is an aim of the Rotary Foundation and alphabetisation in its fundamental form is explicitly mentioned in Rotary’s charter. Moreover, Mr Boyd, Rotary In- ternational President 2006-2007, was promoting education, in particular, in his year themed “Lead The Way”. I would be delighted to come around to one of your club meetings and have a talk. Please do not hesitate to contact me, as I just arrived in Melbourne at the end of June and I am keen to get to know the Rotary Family of District 9800! I will have time in August and September to come around to your clubs. In particular I would like to encourage the Ro- tary country clubs to get in touch with me as I will not hesitate to travel around the District. I am looking forward to hearing from you soon. Regards Maria-Annika Voigt Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar 27 Lithgow Street Abbotsford 3067 Melbourne, Australia Tel. +61448377895 Murder In The Pulpit…

…And Other Encouraging Essays. The Reverend Harlin Butterley has done it again! The second edition of Murder In The Pulpit And Other Encouraging Essays is now available. He is one of the best known priests in Australia, every vacant parish’s preferred locum and one of the wittiest speakers on the circuit. He is also a member of the Rotary Club of Brighton. He is an elfin, puckish character who says that these days he is substantially plastic – hips and all of that. But there is nothing plastic about him as a veteran communicator.

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In a long and colourful 50 year ministry as a school and army chaplain, Hobart’s Dean and Vicar of St Andrew’s Brigh- ton, (Melbourne) Harlin Butterley - “with a name like Harlin Butterley, you would have to have a sense of humour” – has give us a second volume of his ruminations from pew sheets and elsewhere. Harlin calls them Encouraging Essays, which is an accurate description because the tone and temper is always positive and uplifting. The book costs $20 and all proceeds go to Rotary Foundation and Anglicord. For further information, please contact Harlin Butterley on 03 9531 7515 New Rotarian

I think I must have been kind to someone (can’t think who) to be blessed with this job … talking to interesting people with different backgrounds, experiences and ideas. The ‘Legends’ of 40 plus years have given me a number of insights - how it was, how it is and how it could be. The new Rotarians are exciting and their enthusiasm is infectious. Yes, I love interviewing the young turks … but we won’t couch it in those terms this week, because my ‘victim’ is of Greek origin … Nick Mavrodoglos – new Rotarian and the Peter Costello of the Booroondara Rotary Club treasury. C: Welcome to Rotary. What circumstances led you to joining the Booroondara Rotary Club? NM: I wanted to get involved with community service for some time, and I rang the Rotary general information phone number to ask if there was an established club with a younger member base. I was given the details of the Boroondara Rotary Club and was subsequently invited to attend one of the Tuesday night meetings. It all started from there. C: Vocation. What do you do now and how did life’s twists and turns get you there? NM: I am a licensed Commercial Real Estate Agent working for Kevin Sheehan Property Pty Ltd in Cotham Road, Kew. I started out working as a Tax Accountant but that wasn’t really my cup of tea. About six years ago, a friend’s father offered me a great opportunity to learn the ropes in his commercial property business and I have enjoyed the many challenges ever since. C: What sort of projects would you really like to see “ make a difference through Rotary?” NM: There are so many worthy projects that Rotary becomes involved in, but in time I would like to see some projects that assist the health and welfare of indigenous communities in Australia. C: What are your passions outside of Rotary? NM: I am addicted to swimming as it provides a great release from work pressures and daily stresses as well as keeping me fit. I play golf as much as I can and it is very important for me to socialise with friends and family. C: I note that you meet at 7.30pm at QPO – a civilized time and great spot! I’m told that gatherings are “refreshingly laid back”. Have I been misinformed? NM: No Clarice, your information is good. There is certainly a relaxed atmosphere at the meetings and everyone enjoys a joke and a laugh. It’s a good way to spend a Tuesday evening after a hectic day at work. C: What’s a major misconception you had about Rotary before joining? NM: I am pleased to say I didn’t have any misconceptions ... it’s been a good overall experience. C: You have the opportunity to attend one more concert in your life. (past or present performers). Who would you choose and why? NM: I would have say The Beatles. It would be an amazing experience to witness the pandemonium of one of their concerts. C: Staying with the swingin’ 60’s … who do you think really killed JFK? NM: I’m not entirely sure but I’m certain it was an inside job – very dodgy indeed! C: What is one of your favourite eating spots in the Kew/Hawthorn area? NM: I can’t go past The Greek Spot in Burwood Road, Hawthorn. (Tut, tut …you Greek boys. It’s either Mama’s cooking or the next closest thing. But we’ll certainly check out ‘The Greek Spot. Thanks. –C) C: Which six words beginning only with “G” or “M” best describe you?

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NM: Generous, Gentle, Meticulous, Mellow … that’s about all. (I’m sure that modesty prevents you from saying ‘Gregarious’ and ‘Magnificent’ … don’t be bashful – I’m not -C). C: What do you particularly enjoy about the Booroondara Club? NM: The fact that everyone is so busy with their professional and family lives but still have time to make a contribution to Rotary. C: Your origins are Greek, but you haven’t been there yet. Imagine that you’ve been given an all expenses paid trip to Greece for two weeks. Where would you go and what would you do? NM: I would certainly visit Thessaloniki, my Dad’s birthplace. I’d make a beeline for the Greek Islands where I’d stay until the end of my free trip … taking in the sights and enjoying the superb cuisine. I hear that Mykonos and Santorini are especially beautiful, so they would certainly be on my agenda. C: Complete the following : Life is… NM: …precious. C: My secret talent is … NM: …juggling. C: The way to my heart is … NM: …with food. C: Iam… NM: …going to be a dad!!!! (Congratulations! -C) C: Rotary is … NM: …a fantastic organisation. C: Rotarians are … NM: …humanitarians. We chatted on, and guess what we talked about? Yes, you’re right - prospective dads do get a bit focussed and why not? I wished Nick and his lovely wife Sheridan well, and felt I’d made a positive contribution by leaving this affable juggling/swimming addict with a few suggestions … Archimedes, Pythagoras, Aristotle, Socrates … Oh gosh, what if it’s a girl ?!! Featured Club

think that in another life I might have been a Williamstown person. With the Beemer … roof down and purring … I Ialways feel good as I cross the Westgate Bridge and glance left to Hobson’s Bay and the many boats moored in the harbour. I’ve always thought of The Strand as a good place to live and the weekend bustle of the Nelson Place restaurants provides a great atmosphere.

“Meet me in the back bar of the Steam Packet,” said cheerful Rotary Club of Point Gellibrand President, Graeme Ken- nedy. “Sounds a bit ‘tall ships’”, I thought. Well it was – straight out of the 1880’s. Anyone from the area will tell you that the Steam Packet is a celebrated ‘Willy Wa- tering Hole’. I’m sure that shiploads of beers must have been consumed here but I wondered if they were up to mixing a desert dry martini. They were …brilliantly!! That settled, President Graeme and I commenced the interrogation. C: What differentiates the Point Gelli- … aka “The Willy Old Boys” brand Rotary Club from all others? GK: We don’t see ourselves as different in our commitment to Rotary International but we do place a premium on enjoying our involvement in meetings and all Rotary programs. To demonstrate - the accompanying photo shows District Governor John Davis enjoying himself in a rendition of the “Willy High School” song with some other old boy Point Gellibrand Rotarians at his recent visit!

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C: What past projects would rank in your club’s ‘Hall of Fame’? GK: Our major annual fundraiser is the Big Bay Swim which evolved from the original Big Bay Challenge concept pit- ting cyclists, runners and swimmers in a race across the bay. As you would appreciate, the logistical problems for this event were enormous and there were plenty of dramas to deal with (some of which still get airplay!). As a matter of fact we are just getting rid of the last of the Big Bay Challenge hats (a consequence of some overzeal- ous purchasing) with Bill Dagg’s DIK Store being the big winner! (…always a winner, Bill Dagg –C) C: What has your club got in the pipeline for the 2007/08 Rotary year? GK: We have a real focus on growing our membership with a younger member profile as well as implementing new fundraising opportunities. As an example of our recruitment push, we have an evening at the Savage Club com- ing up. It’s an opportunity to not only enjoy another evening of fellowship, but also has the express intent of getting some of our ex-Gellibabies back on board. (“Gellibabies” – members of Point Gellibrand Rotary Club -C) C: Tell us about the vibrant Williamstown area, why people visit and any local features of note. GK: Williamstown has a unique village atmosphere in a maritime precinct with lots of good eateries, but (unfortunately) a rapidly diminishing number of pubs (down from over 100). It also has a historic Time Ball Tower and the Gellibabies are currently working in partnership with Parks Victoria to get it back into working condition so that our chronometers can be set at 1pm daily! C: What is the Point Gellibrand Rotary Club’s passion? GK: Our passion has always been supporting disadvantaged and underprivileged kids and their families. We have an annual Pirates Day and a number of support days for Kids with Cancer and their families. Also, this year there are two weekends where the Gellibabies work with Open Family in treating underprivileged kids from the western suburbs to development and life experiences. May I add proudly, that our club was recognised for its work in this arena by District 9800 as winners of the “New Generations Award” last year. C: If you had to liken your Club to an animal, what would it be and why? GK: We would have to be an elephant – whilst the club is strong and sturdy our members seem to have long memories when it comes to our raucous fine sessions! C: In the Point Gellibrand club, does anyone have an unusual or exotic vocation? GK: On the unusual, Past President (Admiral) Mick Trezise runs Williamstown Charters and we have numerous club events on his boat ‘Vortex’ which is also used frequently to support our commitments to Kids with Cancer and Open Family fishing days etc. Talking about ‘exotic’ – Mick is currently on a well earned break in Thailand so more on that later. (I’m not sure if we’ll report on that… –C). C: Who is the longest serving member in your Club? GK: The Point Gellibrand Rotary Club was chartered in the 1986/87 year and we still have our Charter President Russell Soppitt as our club mentor. We also value the contribution of five other charter members - Past Presidents Kevin Gunn, Jeffrey Bird, Eugene Didenkowski and Doug Bews together with club stalwarts John Patterson and David Dillon. C: Point Gellibrand has a rich history of being a very social club. … is that real or imagined? If so, what’s a weird and/or wonderful highlight you can mention? GK: The rumours are true – as the bar takings at the Royal Victorian Motor Yacht Club can attest! A couple of highlights that come to mind are the conduct of a Mardi Gras in 1989 and a number of ‘tea dances’ at the Williamstown Town Hall – none of which proved to be huge financial successes but The Gellibrand Pile Light, prior to being hit by the Melbourne Trader were great fun for all involved. Let’s say we learned in 1976. Nowadays it’s a steel pole that yachties regularly race from the experiences. C: If Bill Gates donated a $1 million to your club, how do you think you would spend it? GK: In providing further support to our traditional charities, getting more involved in the Australian Rotary Health Re- search Fund, and to take advantage of the compounding opportunities of such a windfall as presented by the Ro- tary matching grant scheme (we currently have a literary program running in Tibet and also support a prosthetic limb program in Sri Lanka). C: If I wanted to get involved with the Point Gellibrand Rotary, how would I go about it?

Rotary District 9800 Issue 6, 6 August 2007 Page 12 Networker We care. We share. We all gain.

GK: Come along to one our functions and enjoy yourself! But seriously … contact any myself (9397 7182 or [email protected]), Kevin Gunn (our Membership Director on 0418 997 914 or [email protected] ) or Henry Fitzell (our Secretary on 9399 8253 or [email protected]). We said our goodbyes and I decided to wander further down Nelson Place to the Royal Victorian Motor Yacht Club … the infamous site of the aforementioned frivolities. As I walked out to the edge of the jetty, a ‘50-something’ sailing type suggested I’d look great as a windswept, bikini-ed addition on a bay cruise. (Take note, ‘Networker’ office staff!). I thought of the ‘Mardi Gras’, the ‘Vortex’ and Mick’s exotic adventures so, with a blushing smile, I refused … but he certainly made my day. Yep, I love Willy!! How’s Your Club Shaping Up?

This report on District 9800 monthly club attendances is for June 2007. Club Cluster Meetings Held Attendance (%) Starting Members Ending Members Club Cluster Meetings Held Attendance (%) Starting Members Ending Members

Albert Park Batman 49% 60 Brunswick Heritage 44% 29 Central Melb. Sunrise Batman 3 53% 57 54 Carlton Heritage 72% 42 41 26 26 Melbourne Batman 456% Collingwood Heritage 67% 22 3 3 Melbourne Latrobe Batman 51% 13 Fitzroy Heritage 80% 32 Melbourne South Batman 5 61% 42 39 Richmond Heritage 71% 47 Southbank Batman 4 56% 30 25 Flemington Hobsons Bay 89% 21 12 13 Brighton Beachside 4 60% Footscray Hobsons Bay 4 49% 56 56 9 1 Brighton Beach Beachside 4 52% 26 24 Maribyrnong Highpoint Hobsons Bay 67% 16 Brighton North Beachside 4 74% 43 44 Point Gellibrand Hobsons Bay 4 70% 35 36 Caulfield Beachside 4 80% 11 10 West Footscray Hobsons Bay 65% 31 31 Elsternwick Beachside 4 59% 22 22 Williamstown Hobsons Bay 55% 30 Glen Eira Beachside 4 51% 27 27 Yarraville Hobsons Bay 60% 19 Castlemaine Calder 4 78% 50 50 Chadstone / East Malvern Monash 4 79% 44 44 Daylesford Calder 4 92% 28 28 Malvern Monash 4 82% 41 41 Gisborne Calder 4 72% 25 25 Prahran Monash 4 72% 31 31 Kyneton Calder 3 81% 39 38 South Yarra Monash 4 75% 10 10 Woodend Calder 4 60% 14 14 St Kilda Monash 4 75% 11 11 Balwyn Eastside 73% 81 Toorak Monash 4 63% 43 43 Boroondara Eastside 75% 19 Altona Port Philip 4 69% 27 27 Camberwell Eastside 4 77% 64 63 Altona City Port Philip 3 78% 27 27 Canterbury Eastside 73% 52 Hoppers Crossing Port Philip 3 74% 30 30 North Balwyn Eastside 73% 92 Laverton Point Cook Port Philip 4 65% 20 20 Essendon Gateway 4 56% 82 82 Werribee Port Philip 4 79% 45 44

Rotary District 9800 Issue 6, 6 August 2007 Page 13 lo orefgetepcain eri oa o oorwsleaders! tomorrow’s for today recruit – expectations great yourself Allow oayDsrc 80Ise6 uut20 ae14 Page 2007 August 6 6, Issue 9800 District Rotary Eaglehawk South Bendigo ulmrn aea 0 02 usieWssd 4 424 24 64% 4 13 44 Goldfields 14 44 Westside 87% 96% 4 4 28 28 82% Westside Westside 24 4 Rochester 27 80% Sunshine Westside Flat Kangaroo 20 4 20 Echuca-Moama Valley Melton Philip 60% Port Goldfields 18 3 Central Brimbank 18 Melton 38 Strathdale 57% Bendigo 27 38 Gateway 4 28 81% 61% 3 Sandhurst Gateway 5 Bendigo Wyndham 28 Gateway Bendigo Gateway 28 Tullamarine 71% 4 Valley Moonee North Melbourne Gateway East Keilor Keilor North Essendon

Club Goldfields Goldfields odils47%3 34 34 70% 4 Goldfields Goldfields 40 40 60% Goldfields 4 Westside Goldfields Marsh Bacchus 32 33 78% 4 Gateway

Cluster 6 24 e ar 1 853 58 61% 3 Yarra 38 37 90% Kew 4 42 42 66% 4 2 03 e-nYraYra49%2 22 22 73 90% 75 4 58% 4 Yarra 32 Yarra 31 65% 3 Kew-on-Yarra 30 30 82% Hawthorn 4 52 52 70% 4 6 39 lnereYra46%4 48 48 60% 12 4 12 64% 3 Yarra Glenferrie 91 83 66% 4

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Ending Members Networker We care. We share. We all gain.

Issue 7, 13 August 2007

August is Membership Month Table of Contents August is Membership Month . . . 1 Plugging Into A Great Design Plugging Into A Great Design . . . 1 Mel Gray’s Membership Corner . . 2 There are many people in our community who would like to contribute more New Members ...... 2 to the wellbeing of society. But often things seem to conspire to forbid the issues and the well-intentioned contributor ever getting together. To this end Notices & Events ...... 2 Rotary provides a great design … it is a template, a facility and an infrastruc- Our Newest Club Hits The Ground ture that can provide practical support, opportunities and solutions to a myr- Running! ...... 6 iad of societies’ problems. With the network and structure of Rotary the opportunity is provided to do something worthwhile. New Rotarian ...... 6 Time has become one of our most precious commodities as well as being a Featured Club...... 7 declared enemy. The effective management of time is elusive and yet it has How’s Your Club Shaping Up? . . 9 become so important as we try to juggle the demands of family, business and the countless other activities that seem to come our way. For Rotarians, Rotary is one of those. It is an unfortunate but generally proven estimate that the 20% of people who are willing to give Service Above Self are the same 20% of the community who seem to be involved in 80% of the community-minded activities. It is also widely acknowledged that people who comprise the contributing 20% are usually busy, involved and active folk who probably take on more than they should. What then motivates these people to take on the extra workload and commitment? Is it some sort of work-related masochism or is there a deeper, more meaningful reason for embracing these additional responsibilities? I subscribe to the “deeper, more meaningful reason”. I believe that people who join a Rotary club - who plug in to the expansive Rotary infrastructure - consider that they have put themselves into an environment where they can make a positive difference to their wider community. Rotary certainly does provide our motivated members with opportunity to focus their ambitions, to help others by providing programs, projects and activities and to channel those ambitions into action … sometimes with stunning out- comes. The old proverb “you receive in satisfaction, twice the effort you put in” is particularly true in the case of Rotary. Members who are keen to become involved in their Club’s activities do not need to wait until they are asked to participate. Any program or club activity is open to any member. If you, as a Rotarian, want to participate in a particular activity or program, declare it. Make your Club president or project leader aware of your interest and, in doing so, you take that giant leap of being able to plug into Rotary’s network. If you speak to any Rotarians who are very committed to their projects you can’t help but be mightily impressed by their enthusiasm, and their zeal. These people have seized on the possibilities that Rotary provides and have, very likely, started to see the fruits of their inspirations and their activity. It’s local, it’s the wider community and it’s international … it’s health, it’s education, and it’s infrastructure. It can be as large as the Polio Plus program or as concentrated as donating a few school footballs. It’s people … it’s Rotary … and it can be very exciting! The more you become involved with Rotary, the more you will enjoy it. If you have not been as active in recent months in your Club’s projects or in fellowship, resolve to become active. The opportunity to contribute and to realise dreams by being part of Rotary and its vast programs is not afforded to everyone. Don’t miss the gift of being able to give. John Davis, District Governor

Rotary District 9800 Issue 7, 13 August 2007 Page 1 Networker We care. We share. We all gain.

Mel Gray’s Membership Corner

here is a tendency to focus on recruiting new members during Membership Month but it’s also vital to pay attention Tto our existing membership and retain our existing talent. To do this, it’s important to appraise your Rotary club dispassion- ately. Is it where you’d like to be for a meal every week? Have some seats come to ‘belong’ to certain members? Do some individuals tend to dominate each week? Does someone greet you when you arrive? Do you have appealing guest speakers who benefit you and your club more than themselves? Is there a Sergeant-at-Arms who enlivens meetings with fines and laughter? Are meetings upbeat and exciting? Do you look forward to them? Do you come away energised? Does your club engage every member? Is there a purposeful activity to get you all involved every month – a fundraiser (sausage sizzle at your school fair), a social event to connect members (a BBQ at someone’s house for members families fellowship), a local community event (a clean-up weekend where club members pick up rubbish along the road)? And, don’t forget the club’s Christmas party. Or does your club have just one annual event with a lot of space in between? To keep your existing members, ensure your club has exciting, pro- Mel Gray with his wife Pam ductive meetings filled with fellowship and laughter. And see that everyone, including your newest members, is responsible for something, whether it’s chairing a committee or being a greeter. Responsibility brings a sense of belonging. An activity a month will unite and strengthen your club. Every member may not participate in everything, but everyone will participate in something. It’s all about activities where Rotarians enjoy fellowship, raise money for humanitarian needs, improve the community and make the world a better place for us all. And best of all, if you all wear Rotary shirts and hats, everyone (including potential members) will know that your Rotary club is alive and well. When your club is vibrant, exciting and productive, start asking folks in your community to join your Rotary club and watch your numbers grow. Adapted from: Shareholder, August 2007 For further information on Membership, visit our District website, or email Mel at [email protected] New Members

Each week we’ll endeavour to list new members as we get to hear about them. Philip Stewart, Rotary Club of Caulfield - Classification: Banking. Adam Ramage, Rotary Club of Brunswick, Classification: Innovation Consultant. Notices & Events

Make Ups for Snow Bunnies

he Rotary Club of Mt Beauty (D9790) meets on the first Wednesday of the month. Why not take the time to join Tthe Mt Beauty Club from 10am at the Falls Creek Hotel for some skiing before joining the meeting from 1.00pm? Please call 5758 3282 for more details.

Rotary District 9800 Issue 7, 13 August 2007 Page 2 Networker We care. We share. We all gain.

Altona City Rotary Club Annual Charity Debutante Ball Come and spend a night with a difference at one of Altona City’s major fundraisers! If you haven’t attended a Debutante Ball for a long time, come and enjoy the trip down memory lane or, perhaps you may like to come and investigate what a fundraiser of this type entails so it could be put on your own club’s fundraising calendar. Either way, we would love to have you attend! Now in its 17th year, the Altona City Rotary Club Annual Charity Debutante Ball is set to go off with a bang once again! This wonderful event enables the young ladies of the area to become Cinderella for the night and it is a well respected and ‘must do’ function for those wishing to make their debut. Debutantes and their partners will be presented to an official party including Rotary’s District Governor – John Davis and Joan, and President of the Altona City Rotary Club – Jan Douglas and Barry. The Ball will be held at Sheldon Reception PDG Bernie Walshe and Margaret at last year’s Centre on Friday 24th August 2007. Debutante Ball Bookings are essential and required by the 15 August 2007. Contact Frank Landells on 9315 6650 or Charlie Montebello 9398 4047.

District Foundation Seminar

RC Altona Art Show

he Rotary Club of Altona’s 30th Annual Art Exhibition & Sale is on again at the Williamstown Town Hall, 104 TFerguson Street on Saturday, 18 August and Sunday, 19 August from 10.00am to 5.00pm. A preview evening is being held on Friday, 17 August from 6.30pm to 10.00pm and bookings are essential. Please call George on 9398 2490. For any general enquiries regarding this event, please call Lois on 9398 3946 or Peter on 9315 2816.

International House 50th Anniversary Dinner

When we die I don't think God will be looking for how much money we made, how many medals we won or how many degrees we accumulated… I believe He will be looking for scars. Wes Truscott, 2007

Rotary District 9800 Issue 7, 13 August 2007 Page 3 Networker We care. We share. We all gain.

Australian Rotary Health Symposium

ll Rotarians, partners and friends are invited to the Australian Rotary Health Symposium conducted by Directors Aand Regional Coordinators from all Districts in Victoria. This is a unique opportunity to put forward your ideas and have your questions answered.

Speakers will include: º Associate Professor Greg Snell on organ transplantation. º India Bohanna, PhD Scholar. º Veronica Kyle, Indigenous scholar. The symposium is being held at Deakin University Burwood Campus on Sunday, 14 October 2007 from 9.15am to 12.30pm to be followed by a sandwich luncheon. For further details, please contact: Des Jones [email protected] 9836 9626 Ron Pickford [email protected] 5339 9756 Judy Nettleton [email protected] 9427 7233 Terry Grant [email protected] 9740 8973 Philip Hedley [email protected] 9587 1767

Save Your Life - and the lives of those you love

ssociate Professor Leanne Rowe AM, MD, Dip RACOG, FRACGP, FAICD is a medical practitioner, author and Aimmediate past Chairman of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. She is also Deputy Chancellor of Monash University and holds appointments with the University of Sydney and the University of Melbourne. Leanne was awarded ‘Best Contribution to Health Care in Australia’ by the Australian Medical Association. She is therefore more than qualified to write her new book ‘Save Your Life’ on preventing the big 9 life threatening illnesses including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, kidney disease, lung disease, cancer, dementia, depression and osteoporosis.

‘Save Your Life’ brings together all the up-to-date scientific information on these illnesses and how to prevent them in one small book. What health screening tests do you need? What early signs of serious illness should you watch out for? How can you effectively manage unhealthy habits like worrying too much? Whether you are 44 or 84, if you would like to update yourself on advances on long term good health, and keep yourself and your family out of hospitals and nursing homes, you must read this book. The World Health Organisation has calculated that Australians could add up to 5 healthy years to our lives by address- ing our health risks. Contact the author for an entertaining and challenging presentation on how to reduce your health risks, symptoms you really have to worry about, and simple health tests that can save you a lot of time, worry and money - and literally save your life. You can invite Associate Professor Leanne Rowe to speak at your next meeting by telephoning 0418 338 629.

RAWCS Seminars

he D9800 RAWCS Committee invites you to learn of opportunities for international service that will enable you to Tshare in the joy of:

º Saving lives by providing safe water º Contributing to the fight against Malaria º Making it possible by delivering donations in kind º Supporting or becoming a RAWCS volunteer Quip Corner º Undertaking meaningful projects that assist the needy Don't play "stupid" with me … I'm better at it!

Rotary District 9800 Issue 7, 13 August 2007 Page 4 Networker We care. We share. We all gain.

º Shelter Boxes – Rotary’s answer to people’s trauma from disaster º Mother & Babies Support initiative – saving lives and creating employment Please see your Club President for further details about joining the RAWCS workshop and share the joy of building peace and goodwill. International House – Sunday, 26 August 2007 at 9.00-9.30am

Ovarian Cancer Awareness Fund Raiser

he Rotary Club of Melbourne South is hosting a Dinner Dance on Friday, 19 October 2007 at International TReceptions, Brighton. All proceeds will go to Ovarian Cancer Awareness. Please contact Robyn Buccheri, President Rotary Club of Melbourne on 0412 561 254.

Waste Wise Event Wins Bronze Medal

he Rotary Club of Richmond’s Pets on Parade Carnival 2007 has received a framed certificate and congratulations Tfrom Sustainability Victoria for successfully being Waste Wise – bronze level. A bronze for an event means committing to an important first step to effective waste management and recycling of at least one waste stream in public areas, plus undertaking a process to evaluate the success of your endeavours. Over 20% of waste on the day of the carnival was recycled and diverted away from landfill, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and saving fossil fuel resources. This evaluation responsibility was ably met by Rotarian Colin Looker. To achieve this diversion rate, sets of six bin stations were generously supplied by the City of Yarra's Waste Management Service collectors, including drop-off and pick-up. Other waste management activities implemented included the promotion of environmental purchasing by stall holders, a cans-only policy for soft dinks, recycling systems for stallholders and attendees using Waste Wise bin caps and awareness signage. Becoming Waste Wise was an important public statement of the club’s resolve to reduce waste at Pets on Parade and become environmentally sustainable, joining a broader program involving schools, local government and business. Planning is now under way for the Pets on Parade Carnival 2008. The planning committee recognises that by once again achieving Waste Wise certification, this popular Rotary Club of Richmond event will be making a meaningful contribution to a sustainable future. The Waste Wise program is supported by the Metropolitan Waste Management Group: www.mwmg.vic.gov.au and Sustainability Victoria: www.sustainability.vic.gov.au./www/html/1857-about-waste-wise-at-events.asp For more information, contact Annie Wysham on 0419 100 287.

Greetings from the Rotary Club of Surigao City, Philippines

Past President Arturo M. Cruje of the Rotary Club of Surigao City, Philippines is seeking donors for their club’s proposed project to help the young surfers of Siargao Island. Siargao Island is the surfing capital of the Philippines. Every year, the Provincial Government of Surigao del Norte hosts international surfing competitions: the women’s event during summer and the men’s event every Septem- ber-October. Even before these surfing tournaments started in 1995 (initiated by Australian and American surfers who frequent the island) people in Siargao were surfing enthusiasts. The young always find time in their day to surf, result- ing in local talent making it through to international events. Unfortunately, these budding local surfers cannot afford the surfboards necessary to hone their skills. They are fixing broken boards given to them by foreign surfer friend. However, there are only very few of these boards they can use for practice and even for competitions.

Rotary District 9800 Issue 7, 13 August 2007 Page 5 Networker We care. We share. We all gain.

The Rotary Club of Surigao City is hoping to acquire second-hand surfboards through donations from Rotary clubs in Australia. The donations will help local hopefuls – mostly from poor families of fishermen and farmers – to realise their dream of joining the ranks of international surfing competitions. If you would like further information regarding this project, please contact PP Arturo Cruje at [email protected] or [email protected] Our Newest Club Hits The Ground Running!

The Rotary Club of Port Melbourne (Provisional) is holding a fundraiser to coincide with National Footy Colours week (3rd – 7th September) to raise awareness and funds for the Bone Marrow Donor Institute (BMDI). The Rotary Club of Port Melbourne (Provisional) will strut their stuff with their first fund raiser event, and the night is sure to be loads of fun with fundraising activities including door prizes, a silent auction and raffle. There is even the possibility of a guest appearance by a high profile football guest speaker and another surprise appearance… Commencing at 6.00pm and concluding around 8.30 – 9.00pm, the $25.00 per head includes your meal and drinks at bar prices. Why not organise a table of 6 to 8 people and have a great night out while showcasing your Rotary club? Don’t forget that the theme of the night is FOOTBALL, so everyone is encouraged to turn up in their football jumper, scarf and/or beanie on the night. Please contact Mark Borchert on 0438 053 423 or [email protected] to make your booking. New Rotarian

could become a western suburbs legend … I’m back in Williamstown … two weeks in a row! Brad McLean is actually Ia member at Essendon North but one of his offices at RetireInvest is in Ferguson Street, Williamstown and that’s where we caught up. I told Brad that I knew all about the Steam Packet Hotel but he directed me to The Rotunda by the beach … elevated with a view over a windswept Port Phillip Bay. Obviously, a superbly bred chap young Bradley … in no time I had a chardonnay in hand to accompany a very tasty salt and pepper squid salad.

C: Firstly Brad, welcome aboard! What circumstances led you to joining the Essendon North Rotary Club? BM: I wanted to join a community group to help put back into the community and also extend my professional network. My partner’s father is a Rotarian, as is my boss, and both suggested I would benefit from becoming a Rotarian. Essendon North is close to home and the evening meetings suited my existing work and family commitments. I was a guest at several meetings before I decided to join the club. I enjoy being part of the club and am looking forward to helping to achieve the goals being set. C: Tell me about your work and what job path you took to get there. BM: I am a Financial Adviser with RetireInvest Williamstown & Avondale Heights. After owning my own businesses for many years I decided I needed a new challenge and new career path. I systematically researched many different roads and found something which I truly enjoy and have the necessary skills to perform. I studied a Diploma of Fi- nancial Services part-time to allow me to become an adviser and advise clients. I am currently studying a Gradu- ate Diploma of Financial Planning (which is also part-time) to broaden my industry knowledge and better myself. C: What sort of projects would you really like to see “make a difference through Rotary?” BM: Having two young teenage children myself, I have a soft spot for any of the projects which help children in any way. C: What are your passions outside of Rotary? BM: Family is very important to me. I’m certainly passionate about my family, but I am also enjoying my career and study. C: Imagine you have a 25 year old son/daughter commencing work. What is a ‘financially responsible’ piece of advice that you would offer?

Rotary District 9800 Issue 7, 13 August 2007 Page 6 Networker We care. We share. We all gain.

BM: Put away 50% of every pay rise you get and you won’t miss it. Don’t be too frivolous with your money; however, you should live your life to the fullest. C: I note that you meet at 6.30pm at Fredericks and that friendly informality is a feature of your club. Am I wrong? BM: No, not at all…you must have attended a meeting there yourself because you have described it to a tee. C: What’s a major misconception you had about Rotary before joining? BM: I thought there was a secret handshake, but that must be something else. (Interesting … I’ve experienced that secret ‘something’ in my Rotary travels … the right hand shakes and the left hand goes around my waist –C) C: Is the AFL about football or is it more about gossip, sensation and celebrities? BM: I am an Essendon supporter having lived in the area for most of my life. It’s so much about the gossip and sensation but becoming more and more about the celebrity factor. (Oh dear … Essendon –C) C: If was looking to spot Elvis in Melbourne, what would be the most likely location? BM: I think I saw him walking into Windy Hill for an interview to take over as coach next year. He’s looking pretty fit! (Oh spare me, Brad … I can just hear the half – time speeches … OK, boys – “It’s Now or Never” –C). C: Imagine that you are entertaining an important ‘out of town’ client. You have to take him/her to one significant Mel- bourne attraction and then to dinner. Which attraction and restaurant would you choose and why? BM: I would take them to the top of the Eureka Building for the highest view of Melbourne then to any one of the restaurants along Southbank. It’s a great part of Melbourne, it’s fairly unique and I enjoy showing it off to visitors. C: Which six words beginning only with “Ex” describe you? BM: Ex-Husband – I was married for 10 years but now have a wonderful partner, Joanne; Ex-hilarating – I can be at times; Ex-hausting – I can be at times when I’m too exhilarating; Ex-pensive – I like the finer things in life; Ex-cellent - I try to be a perfectionist; Ex-plosive – if the kids are not doing as they are told! C: What do you particularly enjoy about the Essendon North Club? BM: The Essendon North Club is a group of extremely passionate and friendly people, looking to help the community and one another. C: Tell me about your last holiday. BM: My last holiday was Perth. My partner Jo is from Perth, so we go over there quite often. The last time we went was March last year and we all had a ball. We rented a house with a pool and acted more like tourists visiting all the local attractions and less of the visiting family thing. C: Complete the following: Life is… BM: …whatever you want it to be. C: My secret talent is… BM: …cooking. C: The way to my heart is… BM: …good company, good food, good wine. (Good for you! –C) C: I am… BM: …always up for a challenge. C: …Rotary is BM: …fulfilling. C: Rotarians are… BM: …passionate. (Yep. Especially the Rotary ‘hand-shakers’ -C) On the way home I thought of Brad’s wise investment words and was trying to work out 50% of my last pay rise. And then, delving into history, I tried to figure out exactly when my last pay rise was … too far back ... hmm. I thought of those officious bean counters who inflicted themselves upon the ‘Networker’ staff once a month and how I’d like to ask them a ‘Clarice question’. “Lads, describe yourselves in 6 words beginning with …..” Sorry (dignity Clarice), I am a scribe, not a scribbler … so c’est la vie (heaven forbid that power-dressing female editors were thought of as ‘moody’). Featured Club

n the tram again … St Kilda Road, Elizabeth Street, Royal Parade and Sydney Road whizz by. My project was the ORotary Club of Brunswick and I was delighted to link with long time stalwart and club Vice-President, Mal Dubock. Mal’s insights and his memories of the club’s activities would fill a book.

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His absolute enjoyment and pride of membership at Brunswick is a great testament to this notable D9800 Club. Coffee … coffee … coffee. After the tram ride I was dying for a little ‘caffeine hit’ and Mal knew all the best spots. We settled for cosy little café full of character, right on Sydney Road and the cool inner-Melbourne atmosphere of the trams ‘ding dinging’ their way by. C: So, Mal, what differentiates the Brunswick Rotary Club from all others? MD It is a very social club, people genuinely enjoy each others’ company, like and respect each other. Our club likes to ‘do its own thing’, whilst working on worthwhile community and international projects. We also like to go the extra mile and do it well! With three Presidents taking office in sequence at 39, 44 and 41 years of age, we have a deliberate policy of lowering the average age of our club. 70% of our current Board is under 50 and our Secretary is What every red-blooded young man aspired to in 1952, when the 36. We haven’t increased our membership, but Rotary Club of Brunswick was Chartered. turnover has replacement by much younger Rotarians. Like all clubs, our ‘legends’ all got old together. Our deliberate strategy was to bring in young members and to encourage them to ‘do it their way’. This has significantly increased our activity over the last three years. It is likely that in future most of our Presidents will be under 50 years of age. C: What past projects would rank in your Club’s ‘Hall of Fame’? MD From 1963/67, the club developed a sheltered workshop for the disabled by raising enough funds to purchase two adjoining factories. This facility still operates today and gives the disabled valued employment and a sense of self worth. Our club built a health centre in Bagong Barrio on a rubbish dump in the slums of Manila. The centre serves as a clinic for the neighbouring poor and is now run by locals. Every two years we fly a doctor and nurse to Australia to upgrade their skills which they impart to other staff. The health centre provides health services, training for health care assistants and facilities for taking medical aid to remote areas. Twenty years ago club members walked from Rotary headquarters in Parramatta, Sydney to Brunswick Town Hall, Melbourne, and raised over $60,000 for Polio Plus, the second highest amount of 1,100 clubs in the Aust/SE Asia region. Another $20,000 was raised and given to other clubs as their contribution and for administrative expenses. We planned, worked (walked) and played to together. I’m sure that it was a unique element in the history and bonding of our Club and still contributes to the friendly character and culture that exists here today. We host two ‘Dance Into Life’ events per year for elderly citizens – who put us to shame with their great dancing and energy! An initial aim to raise $30,000 for a Bone Marrow match for Michael Lawson in 1988/89 yielded $60,000. While the matching process proved unsuccessful we were able to donate $30,000 when the Rotary Bone Marrow Cen- tre was established a few years later. C: What does your Club have in the pipeline for the 2007/08 Rotary year? MD We will be setting up a Youth Arts program in partnership with local schools and the Moreland City Council. As a promotion, we will hold a ‘poster competition’ to publicise the Youth Arts Exhibition to be held later this year. We intend to set up an educational program or school in Bagong Barrio in Manila as an adjunct to the health clinic the club has already established there. We are also supporting youth development and leadership by sponsoring young people attending appropriate Rotary-endorsed activities. C: Tell us about the vibrant Brunswick area, why people visit and any local features of note. MD Brunswick is a very ‘arts orientated’ community with artists, fashion designers, etc setting up businesses and re- siding locally. It is a multicultural community, where different cultures co-exist amicably. Originally it had a lot of industry and employed a lot of people locally. Now the businesses have moved further out, we have a lot of small businesses, mostly providing services.

Rotary District 9800 Issue 7, 13 August 2007 Page 8 Networker We care. We share. We all gain.

C: What is the Brunswick Rotary Club’s passion? MD Good wine, good food, good company, lots of laughs and the shared enjoyment of working together to assist the local community and international projects. (Sounds perfect … bacchanalian, yet responsible – C) C: If you had to liken your club to an animal, what would it be and why? MD Dogs! The older members are “golden retrievers” – sweet and cuddly! The newer members remind me of grey- hounds, running quickly past the winning post (in front of course). Some of the older members are still grey- hounds too!! (I can see that, Mal –C) C: At the Brunswick club, does anyone have an unusual or exotic vocation? MD An ex-AFL player who was also President of the Essendon Football Club, one of the most successful coaches in VFL/AFL history with a 100% win ratio … coached one game, won one game. Perfect ! A solicitor who specialises in working on Japanese projects, in Japanese, a language she learnt at school. This proved invaluable when she went to Japan as a Rotary Youth Exchange student. Whilst studying for her law degree, she took a year out to study law at a Japanese University. C: Who is the longest serving member in your Club? MD Will Moulding - the only surviving Charter member of the club. He has been a member for 54 years and achieved 100% attendance until he was 98 years old. He turned 103 last month (July 2007). By contrast Alice Nichol - the young solicitor mentioned above - is 29 years old. C: If Bill Gates donated a $1 million to your club, where would you spend it? MD We would probably extend our activities in Bagong Barrio by building a multi-purpose school which would include education and training for all age groups – primary, secondary and vocational training. The need there is enormous and the possibilities are almost beyond imagination. C: If I wanted to get involved with the Brunswick Rotary Club, how would I go about it? MD Contact us via our website: www.brunswickrotary.org.au or phone our President, Cheryle, on 9388 1444. We meet at Curly Joes Restaurant, 307 Sydney Road, Brunswick – usually Thursdays at 12.45pm for 1.00 pm but it’s a good idea to check as time or venue may vary. Come and enjoy our company, food, wine and speakers. If you like us and we like you, we would fairly quickly invite you to join. (Curly Joe’s?? … I’m thinking Larry, Mo and Curly … no I can’t be … I’m far too young –C) Thanks Mal. The obvious delight that you get from your membership at Brunswick shines through. I guess it underlines ‘involvement’ and ‘fellowship’ as the cornerstones of a successful interaction with Rotary. With all these ‘feel good’ thoughts going through my head about Brunswick, ‘our trams’ and history, I was not watching my step as I crossed the road. Horror! I wedged my stiletto heel in the tram track. Then, (I believe, ‘on cue’) a sudden cloudburst drenched me. Breaking off the heel, I became a tad ‘un-Clarice’ . The imbibing oases of Far East Prahran seemed much too far away. @%#* trams … How’s Your Club Shaping Up?

Rotary District 9800 Issue 7, 13 August 2007 Page 9 lo orefgetepcain eri oa o oorwsleaders! tomorrow’s for today recruit – expectations great yourself Allow oayDsrc 80Ise7 3Ags 07Pg 10 Page 2007 August 13 7, Issue 9800 District Rotary Eaglehawk South Bendigo 27 27 51% 4 10 11 Beachside 80% 4 Beachside Eira Glen Caulfield ulmrn aea 0 02 usieWssd 4 424 24 64% 4 13 44 Goldfields 14 44 Westside 87% 96% 4 4 28 28 82% Westside Westside 24 4 Rochester 27 80% Sunshine Westside Flat Kangaroo 20 4 20 20 Echuca-Moama Valley Melton Philip 60% Port 20 Goldfields 18 65% 3 Central Brimbank 18 Melton 4 38 Strathdale 57% Bendigo 27 38 Gateway 4 28 Philip Port 81% 61% 3 31 Sandhurst Gateway 5 Bendigo 31 Wyndham Cook Point 72% Laverton 28 Gateway Bendigo Gateway 92 4 28 Tullamarine 71% 4 Valley Moonee Monash 73% North Melbourne Gateway East Keilor Eastside Keilor 44 44 North Essendon 79% Prahran 4 Essendon 25 25 Balwyn North 72% Monash Malvern Canterbury 4 East / Chadstone 50 Camberwell 50 Calder Boroondara 78% 4 Balwyn Woodend Calder Kyneton Gisborne Daylesford 24 26 Castlemaine 60% 52% 4 4 Beachside Elsternwick Beachside Batman North Brighton Beach Brighton Brighton Southbank

Club Goldfields Goldfields odils47%3 34 34 70% 4 Goldfields Goldfields 40 40 44 60% 45 Goldfields 4 79% 4 Westside 27 Philip 30 Port 27 Goldfields 27 43 30 69% 27 43 74% 4 78% 63% 11 3 3 Marsh 4 Bacchus 11 Philip Port 32 Philip 75% Port Philip Port 33 4 Monash 10 78% Werribee 10 4 82 75% 41 Monash Crossing Hoppers 82 41 4 52 56% Gateway 82% 4 4 City Monash Altona Altona 73% 63 19 Gateway 64 Monash Toorak 77% 81 4 75% Kilda St Eastside 14 73% Yarra South 14 Eastside 38 60% 39 Eastside 4 81% Malvern Eastside 3 28 28 Calder 92% Calder 4 Calder 22 22 59% 4 44 43 Beachside 74% 4 Beachside

Meetings Held gain. all We share. We care. We Networker Attendance (%) 9 12 Starting Members 1 13 Ending Members Yarraville Williamstown Footscray West Gellibrand Point otca osn a 9 656 56 49% 4 Bay Hobsons Highpoint Maribyrnong Footscray Flemington

Club osn a 0 19 30 60% 31 55% Bay 31 Hobsons 65% 36 Bay Hobsons 35 70% Bay Hobsons 4 Bay Hobsons osn a 7 16 67% 21 Bay Hobsons 89% Bay Hobsons

Cluster

Meetings Held

Attendance (%)

Starting Members

Ending Members Networker We care. We share. We all gain.

Issue 8, 20 August 2007

August is Membership Month Table of Contents August is Membership Month .....1 2007-8 Benchmark Award 2007-8 Benchmark Award ...... 1 John Howard presents ...... 2 Each year the World President of Rotary International issues spe- Zambia 7 Years On...... 2 cial challenges to Rotary clubs around the world as they begin their new Rotary year. New Members ...... 3 If the challenges, as laid down by the RI President are achieved by 40+ Rotarian ...... 3 the end of April, the achievements of the club are recognised by the Notices & Events ...... 5 World President of Rotary International. Recognition comes in the form of an RI Presidential Club Citation, which is presented to the Clarice Speaks ...... 6 club by the District Governor before the end of the Rotary year. Featured Club ...... 8 In some years, the challenges set down by the RI President have RAWCS Round-Up From Camp Getaway . 9 been simple. In other years they have been complex and daunting. Police Leadership Mentoring Program . 10 RI Presidents try and set challenges that are applicable to the 32,000 plus clubs in Rotary International. However, when consider- Mel Gray's Membership Corner ....11 ing the diversity of cultures, countries and populations, there are times when the challenges set are more applicable to Africa, South America and Asian countries and may not relate to local activities undertaken by clubs in Australia. In recent years many clubs in our District have had an active and very successful year and have met all the RI challenges except one. That one challenge is a net gain of one member in the club from the numbers shown on the SAR as at 1 July. The net gain of one member in the club is a mandatory requirement for the Presidential Club Citation. The important concept is 'net gain'. A club may have inducted five new members in the year but, due to various circumstances, also could have lost five members. The net gain is nil and the club cannot qualify for the RI Presidential Club Citation. It is my wish to recognise those clubs that have achieved success in the 2007-8 Rotary year by having an active bal- anced program as well as having an active recruitment and retention of members campaign. Therefore, I have developed a set of challenges 'with options', so that clubs that are active and have made a positive contribution to their communities, both locally and overseas, will be recognised for their achievements. Clubs who meet the challenges, as set out by the District Governor 2007-8, will be awarded the District Governors Benchmark Award. This will be a cloth badge for display on the club banner, so that visitors to the club will be aware that they are visiting a Benchmark Club. The Challenges cover five areas: Marketing/Public Image, Community Service, International Service, Vocational Ser- vice and Membership. Applications for the District Governors Benchmark Award will be sent out to the President of each club in early May and are to be returned by the 31 May to the District Governor. Applications will be assessed and presentations to clubs that have met the criteria of the District Governors Benchmark Award will be completed prior to 30 June 2008. John Davis, District Governor

You will never get much done in your life if you only work the days when you feel good! Wes Truscott, 2007

Rotary District 9800 Issue 8, 20 August 2007 Page 1 Networker We care. We share. We all gain.

Outstanding Contribution in Drug and Alcohol Endeavours

rime Minister John Howard personally presented his 2007 Award for Outstanding PContribution in Drug and Alcohol Endeavours to Odyssey founder and immediate past chairman, Nigel Dick AM.

The Prime Minister stated that Nigel’s work with Odyssey for almost three decades has played a key role in rebuilding lives and reuniting families. Nigel responded that Odyssey's work was focussed not only on the individuals but also, and importantly, on their partners and children. Nigel Dick AM & Prime Minister The Prime Minister and Nigel were united in the view that Australia depends on en- John Howard suring Australian children and grandchildren grow up in a positive, safe and happy family environment. Zambia 7 Years On - We Have Made A Difference!

ver the past seven years the contributions that have been sent from Australia to Rotary Zambia are highly visible. ODistrict 9800 has sent many containers and been involved with matching grants with the Rotary Clubs of Lusaka Central and Kucinta. Lusaka Central works closely with a community based rural education program (the Peoples Action Forum) where we had the privilege of visiting many of their community centres.

At each of the places we visited we saw evidence of empowered and trained leaders, income generating projects, improvements to buildings, water and san- itation, and the provision of community based education for children and adults. We saw the materials we sent made up into gar- ments, school uniforms on children and educational materials and library books distributed widely. Highlights included: º A visit to the Grandmas project where 10 grandmas look after 75 orphaned grandchildren. We were stunned to meet an 85 year old who is supporting 14 grandchildren. (Lusaka Central/Peoples Action Forum) º Visits to a number of community learning centres where we were welcomed by crowds of adults and children, some of whom had walked up to 100kms to meet us. They showed us A typical classroom used for adult education many of their newly acquired skills including sausage making, tie dying, polish making, knitting and crocheting, mushroom production, weaving, sewing, woodwork and broom making. Vegetable garden- ing was also well in evidence thanks to the bores and pumps supplied by Rotary. Most of these activities supported self sufficiency by way of providing items for consumption and/or sale. There is no social security in Zambia. (Lusaka Central/Peoples Action Forum) º Visit to Tikondane where we were able to consider a different model of assistance within Zambia. Both programs are now sharing information and skills with each other. (Chipita RC/Elke Kroeger-Radcliffe) º Visits to areas where proposed matching grants will make an enormous difference to the people living in those communities. (Kucinta and Lusaka Central) º Our presence at the opening of the latest container and the distribution of the contents. (Lusaka Central/Peoples Action Forum, Kucinta, Tikondone & Home of Hope)

Rotary District 9800 Issue 8, 20 August 2007 Page 2 Networker We care. We share. We all gain.

º Visit to the Home of Hope, Mother Teresa Missionaries of Charity combined orphanage, and school for vulnera- ble children from outside the orphanage as well as those from the orphanage and a hospital/hospice section for adult women and men. We were overwhelmed by the use these Zambians made of the contributions we had sent. Their gratitude and re- quests for ongoing assistance in order to reach a level of sustainable living, we hope will be taken up by Rotarians in District 9800. Their friendliness, hospitality and music will stay with those of us who had the privilege to visit their country forever. Yours in Rotary, Anne Scott, Rotary Club of Hawthorn Ken Scott, Rotary Club of Glenferrie Ted Cunningham, Rotary Club of Keilor and his wife Carmel Annie McGenisken, Rotary Club of Keilor East New Members

Last week we reported a new member at RC Brunswick, Adam Ramage. Adam is of course the Past President of the club, and the new member is Jason Cotton, classification: Innovation Consultant. Welcome Jason! Joe Paterno, RC West Footscray, Classification: Distributor (advertising material) Chris Stacey, RC Keilor East - Classification: Transport Services David LaFerla, RC Melbourne - Classification: TBA 40+ Rotarian

he role of the general medical practitioner has undergone enormous changes in the last half century. Dr Bill Pick, a TGP in the Kew area for over 50 years, has seen most of them … 'on call' 24 hours a day and house calls have been superseded with many surgeries now run by large companies. Bill has also been a member of the Rotary Club of Kew since 1967. He is 77 years old and retired two years ago. I caught up with Bill at his home in leafy North Balwyn.

C: How did you become involved with Rotary? BP: My working partner, Dr Robert Edwards, was a member at the Rotary Club of Hawthorn - the sponsoring club for the Rotary Club of Kew. I went to meetings as his guest and was invited to join the Kew club. C: What is the biggest project you've been involved with as Rotarian? BP: The Polio Plus campaign … a wonderful project. C: What was Australia's best decade and why? BP: I think 1955 - 1965. The Second World War was over and expanded building of cities and homes was progressing well. Australia's primary exports were booming and migration was making an impact as we started to see the beginnings of various cultural influences. It was also the period which saw Melbourne host the Olympic Games - a great event which thrust this city and Australia onto the world stage in a very positive way. C: What is the biggest change in Rotary that you've seen? BP: The admission of women … and it has been so successful. This was a decision that I supported at the time and I believe that their contribution since to the programs of Rotary has been enormous. C: Tell me about an exciting or unusual event that you've been involved with - Rotary or otherwise. Dr Bill Pick, Rotary Club of Kew BP: An exciting event that we have organised twice in the last 3 years is 'The Design Fest' - a display of landscaped gardens in the eastern suburbs. C: What do you particularly enjoy about the Kew Rotary Club? BP: The fellowship.

Rotary District 9800 Issue 8, 20 August 2007 Page 3 Networker We care. We share. We all gain.

C: You were around in the early days of Kew. Tell me about some of the interesting and inspirational characters you've seen at the club. BP: Ivan Baldwin was an inventor and had a large business manufacturing stapling apparatus of many types for industry. He was a laconic chap who stated that Rotary was a friendship organisation that was being taken over by fundraising. Peter Jackson, a professional photographer was another interesting character. He would, at his own expense, always take photos at club functions. At club meetings he enjoyed giving 'the thought for the day' … Peter's 'thoughts' were often very, very long. C: Of all the events in history, which one would you have liked to witness? BP: Without a doubt, the discovery of penicillin. It opened the door for medicine to control infections. Penicillin was discovered by Alexander Fleming in 1928 but it was an Australian, Howard Florey, who was a major contributor to the development of the drug which saved countless lives in World War II and which continues to be widely used today. I have always regarded Howard Florey as the greatest Australian. C: What are your interests outside of Rotary? BP: I have a great abiding interest in my family and have now been married for 50 years. My wife, Pauline, was a nurse and we have 3 children - one a computer programmer, another a cardio-thoracic surgeon and my only daughter is a solicitor. I joined the Port Phillip Probus Club 12 months ago and am a member of the Metropolitan Golf Club. My wife and I also enjoy travel. C: Do you enjoy football? BP: I certainly do! Back in the late 1940's I played with St Kilda under 19's. I've always been a Saint supporter and try to get to all the games they play at the MCG, where I'm a member. Sadly I missed our one premiership in 1966 … I was on duty and it was my wife who told me about the great result. (Hmm … but it was St Kilda. OK, I guess … better than …Oops! -C) C: Football today? BP: I think there are too many packs - players throwing themselves in - sometimes it looks like rugby. No, football was certainly a better game to watch back in the 1950's and 60's. C: What do you enjoy when you have 'a little tipple'? BP: I prefer white wine to red and sometimes I enjoy a cold beer. (Darn, there goes my "Clarice would you like a big red wine?" moment -C) C: Why is being a Rotarian special to you? BP: I enjoy Rotary because my wife and I have come to mix with some very fine people who are motivated to put something back into the community in their spare time. It has also given me the opportunity to enjoy friendships with men and women of different occupations to medicine. C: We're hearing a lot about the obesity of Australians, particularly young Australians. As a doctor, what else do you think needs to be implemented to correct this serious current and future health issue? BP: I think that there needs to be education on what constitutes a healthy diet and also the quantities eaten. There should also be advice and encouragement for regular exercise throughout life. (At this point I delicately replaced the scone I'd 'double loaded' with jam and cream and resolved that I would do better… -C) C: We're always on the lookout for good place to eat. Do you have a restaurant that you could recommend in the Kew/Bal- wyn area? BP: A very good restaurant in our area is the Glencoe in Whitehorse Road, Mont Albert. (Glencoe … something about Glencoe - at school, history was the last period on Friday … no time to listen - weekends were being 'plotted' -C) C: If your life had to be likened to a song, what would it be? BP: 'The Best Things In Life Are Free'. C: Complete the following: Life is … BP: …a journey requiring determination with "Days of Sunshine, Days of Rain, Days of Joy and Days of Pain'. C: My secret talent is … BP: … to be thorough in my work, to never betray the trust of my patients and family, and to enjoy my work and interests. C: The way to my heart is … BP: … to have my patients, family and friends to have the same trust in me. C: Iam… BP: … grateful for a lot of things, particularly a good education and the opportunity to live in this wonderful country. C: Rotary is … BP: … a fine, unselfish organisation.

Rotary District 9800 Issue 8, 20 August 2007 Page 4 Networker We care. We share. We all gain.

C: Rotarians are … BP: … people who give of their ideas, time and money to build a better society, both locally and overseas. I'd timed this beautifully. Bill was my last assignment for the week. It was Friday afternoon and I was heading to the Yarra Valley for a B&B wine and dine weekend with some 'gals from school'. You know the sort … lots of gossip and total character decimation of certain male persons. Ironically, I drove straight past the The Glencoe restaurant. I thought of long-time Saint and regular visitor Dr Bill. I also thought of the history … Aha!! Yes!! Glencoe !! Wasn't it the Campbell clan who murdered a number of the McDonald clan at Glencoe. Yes … I'm sure. So I figured that the Camp- bells must own the Glencoe restaurant. However, it's not all bad. The McDonalds have made a great comeback … I mean, the golden arches are everywhere. As you've probably gathered, the Clarice grip on history is not exactly vice-like. Notices & Events

Rotary Club of Carlton Meeting Time Change

he Rotary Club of Carlton will be meeting on Thursday, 30 August (12.30 for 1.00pm) at Graduate House, Leicester TStreet, Carlton instead of Tuesday, 28 August to enable a presentation from the Vice Chancellor of the University of Melbourne.

Balkanu Project

he great part about being in a RAWCS volunteer team is that all the work is hands on and, mostly, you get to see Tthe results of your efforts and can appreciate the practical benefits that accrue. In consultation with Virginia Turner, D9800 RAWCS Chairperson, David Barkley from the Rotary Club of Geelong is organising three teams to assist in building low cost accommodation in the Balkanu area on Cape York Peninsula. The period away is thirteen days and the initial proposed dates of departure are: Team 1 : 12/09/07 - 25/09/07 Team 2 : 03/10/07 - 16/10/07 Team 3 : 24/10/07 - 06/11/07 There can be some variation in the dates depending on availability of volunteers. Teams comprise of at least four volunteers, with a builder included if possible. Usually the team fly to Cairns on Wednesday. After being picked up by people from Balkanu, there is a briefing ses- sion and shopping for supplies. An overnight stay in Cairns, and then you’re transported to the proposed site. All camping equipment and tools are provided. The sites are generally quite remote. Some of the locations that are on a priority list for building are: Weipa, Coen, Lockhart River, Injinoo and Cape Tribulation. If anyone is interested in being on a team and being part of this very rewarding hands on RAWCS experience, please contact David Barkley on 03 5226 9240 or 0417 310 197. You can also reach him by fax 03 5225 9140 or email [email protected]. It is also important to keep RAWCS D9800 Chairperson Virginia Turner informed of your intention to join the Team: [email protected] or 03 9592 4691.

Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) World Cup

he University of Melbourne SIFE Team (Students in Free Enterprise) has been selected to compete in the SIFE TWorld Cup in New York in October. The team will be making their World Cup presentation to the Rotary Club of Carlton at its meeting at Graduate House, Leicester Street, Carlton at 12.30pm for 1.00pm on Tuesday, 21 August.

Rotary District 9800 Issue 8, 20 August 2007 Page 5 Networker We care. We share. We all gain.

Graduate House is advertising this event and the intention is to assist the team with funding for the trip. All Rotarians and guests are invited to attend this meeting and support these talented students. Enquiries to Peter Tuohy, Secre- tary, RC Carlton on 9686 9535 or 0418 950 974. Email: [email protected].

International House 50th Anniversary Dinner

dinner to celebrate this special event will be held at Albert by the Lake, Aughtie Drive, Albert Park on Saturday, 25 AAugust 2007 commencing at 6.30pm for 7.00pm. Tickets are $80.00 per person and this includes a three course meal with beverages. Guest speakers will include the Governor of Victoria, Professor David de Kretser A.C. Bookings can be made at International House or by phoning 9347 6655. This is a special invitation for Rotarians to join the Alumni in celebrating this great event.

RAWCS Seinar - International House

The D9800 RAWCS Committee invites you to learn of opportunities for international service that will enable you to share in the joy of: º Saving lives by providing safe water º Contributing to the fight against Malaria º Making it possible by delivering donations in kind Clarice Speaks º Being and supporting a RAWCS volunteer (with apologies to Rudyard Kipling) º Undertaking meaningful projects that assist the needy If playing with words is not very hard If your prose really flows … just like Billy the Bard º Shelter Boxes Rotary's answer to people's trauma from disas- If your verbs are 'scrubbed up' … and show some sort of clue ter You're a writer, my friend … and 'The Networker' needs you! If you'll only do a 'gig' with a bit of 'a byte' º Mother & Babies Support initiative - saving lives and creat- If you think that computers are 'sacred and right' ing employment If toolbars seem tasty … and pixels are your cue You're a 'tech whiz', my friend … and 'The Networker' needs you! International House - Sunday, 26 August 2007 at 9.00-9.30am - Clarice Please see Club President for fur- This is a fabulous opportunity to lend the Networker team ther details about joining the a hand with your writing or computer skills. I'd love to hear RAWCS workshop and share the from any budding journos or people willing to be trained in joy of building peace and goodwill. our IT processes. Please send me an email - [email protected]. Wine …and more! A visit to Rose Creek Estate on Sunday, 26 August will surprise and delight you! The winery is open for tastings and sales as part of the Sunbury "Sip-n-Sup" 2007 Wine Festival. Rose Creek Estate has won Gold, Silver and Bronze at Eltham and Daylesford. From one who has consumed quite a bit of wine … their wines are good! Surprisingly, the winery is in mid-suburban East Keilor with 3000 vines totally under netting. Olive trees surround the vines, and as may be expected from owners with a name like Siciliano, their locally pressed olive oil (also for tasting and sale) is superb. A Silver medal at the Royal Easter Show in Sydney is proof of that. Apart from the vineyard and winery, you will be delighted to find a little piece of Italy nestled in the suburbs, with a self sufficient vegetable garden and orchard, chooks galore, a garden to envy … and a friendly Italian cellar-door atmosphere with music to entertain.

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Entry is free - but purchase of a raffle ticket at the entrance is strongly encouraged. The prize is, naturally enough, wine and olive oil! The Rotary supported Xanana Vocational Education Trust - www.xananatrust.org - is the beneficiary of the entry/raffle. The Rotary Club of Tullamarine is selling BBQ delights to accompany the wine, with proceeds going toward their international project - StarBright (visit www.starbright.org.au). Another highlight of the day is the possibility of a special surprise visit by Clarice … no guarantees though. A good-fun day is however a certainty! Rose Creek Estate is located at 2 Craig Street, East Keilor.

Rotary Club of Chadstone/East Malvern Venue Change

he Rotary Club of Chadstone/East Malvern has changed the venue of their meetings. They will now meet every TWednesday from 6.00pm for 6.30pm for dinner at the Matthew Flinders Hotel, 667 Warrigal Road, Chadstone.

Support D9800's Newest Club

s mentioned in last week's News & Events, The Rotary Club of Port Melbourne (Provisional) is holding a Afundraiser to coincide with National Footy Colours week (3 - 7 September) to raise awareness and funds for the Bone Marrow Donor Institute (BMDI).

RC Port Melbourne's (Provisional) first fundraiser event is scheduled for Monday, 3 September, commencing at 6.00pm and concluding around 8.30 - 9.00pm. The $25.00 per head includes your meal and drinks at bar prices. Please contact Mark Borchert on 0438 053 423 or [email protected] to make your booking.

RC Brimbank Central's Youth Forum

RC Brimbank Central are holding a Youth Forum on Wednesday, 12 September 2007 with the theme "It's okay to say No!". The forum will be held at the Starlight Room, Taylors Lakes Hotel, Sydenham Melton Road, Taylors Lakes from 6.30pm for a 7.00 pm start. Cost is $20.00 for adults and $10.00 for students with ID.

Key-note speakers Subject

Jennifer Brooker - Stride Youth wellbeing

Sue Renkin - Open Family Stress

Jan Tully - Tobin Brothers Bullying

Dr. Stefan Gruener - Odyssey House Suicide

Snr Constable Jon Reader - Victoria Police Drugs & Alcohol

Students, parents, teachers, Police, youth workers, welfare workers, counsellors and of course Rotarians are encouraged to attend. Please contact David Johnson on 0418 580 045 to book or Lou Gionfriddo, Program Chairman on 0411 871 978

ARH Symposium & BBQ Luncheon - Camp Getaway

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Speakers will include: º Associate. Professor Greg Snell on organ transplantation º Adam Walker, ARHRF PhD Scholar º Veronica Kyle, Indigenous Scholar Stay and enjoy a barbecue luncheon following the Symposium (please RSVP by 02/09/07 for catering purposes). To RSVP or for further information, please contact Judy Nettleton on 9427 7233 or at [email protected]. For those unable to attend on 9 September, our next Symposium will be on 14 October 2007 at Deakin University. Featured Club

love the close Clubs …a leisurely breakfast, and a short drive to Malvern. I love the Malvern shopping area … a little Ibit of exclusivity mixed with a high brow arty flavour. I can't quite put my finger on it, but if you've been there you know what I mean. The Rotary Club of Malvern, Chartered in 1959, was my quarry and I had an 11.30 am appointment with Lucia Cardamone - Malvern's energetic membership director.

Lucia became St Lucia (or Santa Lucia) as there was a magnificent cup of coffee immediately ordered. We met at Giorgio's which is also the meeting place for the Malvern Club (Lunch - Wednesdays at 12.45pm). After coaxing a A 1959 Ford - the time that the Rotary Club of Malvern was couple of local "you must look at" clothing shop tips from Lu- formed. Not a Beemer, though … cia the real business of the day commenced … C: What differentiates the Malvern Rotary Club from all others? LC: It's a welcoming club - the meetings are relaxed, well run, informative but importantly fun. Malvern is at its best with hands on projects. Invariably we get high member participation in our projects. Age is no limit. At our recent Tree Planting Day near Broadford, one of our senior Rotarians, '84 years young' lead the way and made a tangi- ble contribution! At the conclusion of each project a review of the day's efforts is always immediately conducted - over a good bottle of red wine of course!!!! (Aah … sensible civility. I think I've met a soul mate -C) C: What past projects would rank in your club's 'Hall of Fame'? LC: We have won 3 Significant Achievement Awards over the years. This award was given once every two years. We started the 3rd Malvern Spastic Scouts in 1965. We designed and built a Scout Hall in 1970. A 20 minute 16 mm colour film was made of the building which was shown at the 1970 Rotary International Conference. We built a caravan for Diabetes which was used around Victoria but first based at the Malvern Town Hall. We had very successful Sportsmen nights at the Matthew Flinders Hotel which were compered by the infamous Mike William- son. We have (through Peter Milburn) started 5 Probus Clubs in Malvern. Rotary Club of Malvern started MECWA (Malvern Elderly Citizens Welfare) in the 1960's and its Opportunity Shop in Wattletree Road which still exist today. C: What has your Club in the pipeline for the 2007/08 Rotary year? LC: We are investigating the opportunity to ship used computers to two schools in Sri Lanka; assisting Very Special Kids and The Alfred Hospital with their major fund raising activities; planning to Adopt A Village; assist a local school with installation of water tanks; recently coordinated the Cluster Tree Planting Day near Broadford; and, supporting new generations activities - RYPEN, RYLA & MUNA. C: Tell us about Malvern and the surrounding area, why people visit and any local features of note. LC: We have wonderful coffee shops and terrific restaurants. If you are interested in antiques, Malvern is definitely the place to go. C: What is the Malvern Rotary Club's passion? LC: Whilst our club does not have any major signature events or activities, our members are proud Rotarians and passionate about making a difference to the lives of those less fortunate. (What a great answer - C) C: If you had to liken your club to a make of car, what would it be and why?

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LC: We are like a BMW M3 – refined on the outside, a hell of a lot fun and boy when we need to can we ever go!!!! (A Beemer … wow. Forgive me I'm about to gush like a 1950's society pages editor reviewing a royal visit … big breath, Clarice … whew, OK …I'm over it. - C) C: In the Malvern club, does anyone have an unusual or exotic vocation? LC: Our most recent member, Winston Furlong, is a Script Writer and Film Director. Bet there isn't another in Rotary!!! (And you'd probably be right. Now Lucia, do you think Winston would be interested in discussing … No? I didn't think so -C). C: Who is the longest serving member in your club? LC: Clive Elliot was inducted 27 May 1959 at the age of 38 and he is soon to turn 87. C: The Rotary Club of Malvern is nearly 50 years old. There must have been some interesting events along the way. What's a weird, funny and/or wonderful highlight that you could mention? LC: A visually impaired Rotarian had the blunt end down and the pointed end up when recently planting trees in Broadford – that was funny! C: If an anonymous donor sent $1 million to your club with a note saying, "Spend the lot or it will be withdrawn", where do you think would you spend it? LC: We would purchase a property within our area that could be used as emergency housing for families in need with nowhere else to go. C: If I was keen to get involved with RC Malvern, how would I go about it? LC: It would be best to contact Yvonne Flynn 0418 387 339 or Lucia Cardamone on 0438 833 338. Business sorted, we settled down to enjoy some of the fine fare offered at Giorgio's. As I quaffed a cheeky chardonnay, Lucia pointed out that across the road was the Malvern Town Hall … the place where the Stonnington Council met. "The Stonnington Council", I blurted. These were the people who cheerfully charged my significant Far East Prahran rates and who seemed to seek out the Beemer when I was 30 seconds over in a parking spot. They even charged licencing fees for my toy poodles - "Ali" and "Schmuck". This was 'enemy territory'. Lucia rolled her eyes and, as we surveyed the decadent list of cheesecakes, my anger dissipated. Well done Malvern. Personable, organised, and hands on … and sensational cheesecake! RAWCS Round-Up From Camp Getaway

n Sunday, 12 August I attended the RAWCS seminar held at the Rotary Camp Getaway. The aim of RAWCS is to Oassist Australian Rotary clubs to develop and manage International Service projects that result in the creation of goodwill and understanding amongst the people of the world.

The programs run by Rotary clubs under the banner RAWCS are Rotarians Against Malaria, Safe Water Saves Lives, Support A Village Initiative, Donations In Kind and Rotary Volunteers. At the seminar it was inspiring to listen to other Rotarians involvement with RAWCS projects and find out what other District 9800 clubs are doing in world community services. The RAWCS committee has a long list of projects needing funding and volunteers to improve the lives of others less fortunate than ourselves. For a club to adopt a project requires a long term commitment that usually requires a two year planning stage and to raise funding. A project can be jointly run by Rotarians from several clubs and involve friends of Rotarians. The thing that impressed me most of all at the seminar was Roger Fasken with Shelter Box the friendships that had developed between those Rotarians that had volunteered on RAWCS projects. One such project run by the Rotary Club of North Balwyn is "Adopt the Community of Tulagi" in the Solomon Islands where they have upgraded a community school and reno- vated the hospital and medical centre. This work has been done with the assistance of Matching Grants from The Rotary Foundation.

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All Rotary club members should give consideration to taking on a RAWCS project. If your club is small in numbers, consider joining forces with other D9800 clubs or involving friends of Rotary. The RAWCS committee will be holding another seminar on Sunday, 26 August in Melbourne. This would be an excellent opportunity for all D9800 Rotarians to be inspired and maybe get involved with a RAWCS project. - Rick Altman, Rotary Club of Melbourne North

Quip Corner Did you expect mere proof to sway my opinion? The RAWCS committee.

Police Leadership Mentoring Program

"Mentoring is an important leadership strategy for assisting our police leaders' transition to senior management." said Commander Kevin Scott, Director of the Airlie Leadership Development Centre of the Victoria Police.

Background The above quote led to an innovative and collaborative vocational service program initiated by the Rotary Club of Cen- tral Melbourne-Sunrise and Victoria Police. Fourteen metro Rotary Clubs in D9800 together with very senior leaders from the Victorian business community will provide mentoring to fifteen police leaders (at the Inspector rank) who seek to increase their knowledge of the business environment, improve their understanding of strategic leadership and gain an insight into community service organisations, such as Rotary.

When does it commence? A commitment has been made for the initiative to run over the duration of three years. The inaugural program will run for nine months commencing on Tuesday, 4th September with an official launch dinner at the RACV City Club with the Chief Commissioner, Christine Nixon and District Governor D9800, John Davis, business leaders and Rotarians. The launch is being hosted by the Rotary Club of Central Melbourne-Sunrise through the gen- erosity of an Honorary Member.

What's involved? Each Police Inspector will have two rotations with two mentors over nine Steering Group of Rotary, Police and Business months: meeting at Airlie Development Centre in South º with an experienced Rotarian who will share their business and Rotary Yarra. knowledge and encourage involvement in the service activities of their Rotary Club within the community and the other º with an experienced business executive from the private, public or not-for-profit sector who will share business knowledge and corporate strategy. The mentoring schedule involves mentorees and their mentors participating in business discussions and attending oc- casional Rotary meetings throughout the duration of the program. Commander Kevin Scott said, "Strategically, this Leadership Mentoring Program with Rotary and business strongly aligns with the key value areas of intelligent, confident, community and partnership policing and on completion the In- spectors participating will have:

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º Increased confidence and a broader understanding of the business and service volunteer environment; º Improved understanding of strategic leadership; º Gained an insight and understanding of different organisational approaches to leadership and service; º Explored opportunities with mentors to probe, analyse and synthesise different leadership styles, high level executive communication, problem solving and participated in programs for the disadvantaged; º Increased their ability to contribute to the community by developing relationships between police, community volunteers and corporations and assist them in building strong professional and service networks. This new mentoring partnership provides an exciting and high impact development opportunity for Victoria Police current and future leaders. It also strengthens our involvement with an influential community organisation such as Rotary International and provides an opportunity for closer personal involvement at club levels throughout Victoria."

More Information? For further information regarding this program, contact Rotarian John Meehan on (03) 9859 1772 or via email at [email protected]. Mel Gray's Membership Corner

"Rotary lets you give something back, in the knowledge that you belong to the largest family of givers." - Deanna Ann Dugaid, Indonesia

Responsibility of Club Membership The club is the cornerstone of Rotary, where the most meaningful work is carried out. All effective Rotary clubs are responsible for four key elements: sustaining or increasing their membership base; participating in service projects that benefit their own community and those in other countries; supporting The Rotary Foundation of RI financially and through program participation; and developing leaders capable of serving in Rotary beyond the club level. What Rotarians get out of Rotary depends largely on what they put into it. Many membership requirements are designed to help members more fully participate in and enjoy their Rotary experience.

Membership Recruitment & Retention To keep clubs strong, every Rotarian must share the responsibility of bringing new people into Rotary. Even new members can bring guests to meetings or invite them to participate in a service project. The value of Rotary speaks for itself, and the best way to spark the Mel Gray with his wife Pam. interest of potential members is by letting them experience fellowship and service firsthand. Keeping members interested in Rotary is another responsibility. Good club fellowship and early involvement in service projects are two of the best ways to sustain the club's membership. The ideal composition of a Rotary club reflects the community's demographics, including professions, gender, age and ethnicity. Such diversity enriches every aspect of the club's fellowship and service. Extract from Rotarian, August 2007

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Issue 9, 27 August 2007

August is Membership Month Table of Contents August is Membership Month. . . 1 The Power Of The Web The Power Of The Web...... 1 New Members ...... 2 eing someone of 'less than tender' years, I can understand how the 40+ Rotarian ...... 2 Binternet - the worldwide web - can be very confronting for some older people. It represents 'new technology', it seems impersonal and it In The Media ...... 4 underpins a huge shift in the way that information is sought, gathered and The Childhood Hero ...... 4 distributed. Yet older people are one section of our society who can derive enormous benefit by embracing 'the power of the web'. It's the same for Rotary Clubs Pack It In ...... 6 Rotary and Rotarians. Notices & Events ...... 6

At a recent Club visit - coincidentally in Membership Month - I met a young Medical Aid In The Philippines . . 9 lady who was seized by the notion of service to others and who wanted to Mel Grey’s Membership Corner . 10 become involved in community activities. She had heard about Rotary and decided to conduct her own investigation. Like most young people, her first point of call was the internet. By typing in 'Rotary Clubs of Mel- bourne' she accessed our new District website. In reviewing the structure of our District and the nature and scope of our projects, she was convinced that Rotary was an ideal match. With thoughts of accessibility to home and work (and still on the website), she moved to 'A Club Near You'. A click on the chosen club and she had the President's phone number. After a conversation about learning more, the proactive President invited her to the next meeting where he arranged for her to be looked after, introduced widely and provided with Rotary information. And that's when I saw her … delighted by the experience, armed with information and declaring, "I'll be back". Was she lucky with her choice - a proactive club, responsive to her needs? Perhaps, but I hope not. We should all see these enquiries as new membership opportunities or, at the very least, opportunities to increase the awareness of Ro- tary in the wider community. The District website can initiate membership interest, but it is the clubs that must close the sale. A few things that assist this are: º Be responsive and welcoming. While membership invitations cannot be extended on enquiry, an invitation to be a guest at the next meeting is ideal. º The club meeting must be vibrant and interesting. º Club members should be encouraged to heartily welcome the visitor. º Make the meeting look like Rotary and not 'just another meal'. Regalia is important. º Prepare and ensure that visitors are recognised on arrival and looked after. º Arrange a follow-up meeting so that further information, including the obligations of Rotary, can be explained further. If all these things are followed then an excellent environment has been created to encourage proactive people to become members of Rotary. The web can certainly open the door to new membership but it is up to all of us to acknowledge the interest created by the web and 'Networker', and to capitalise on the significant interest that is being generated. John Davis, District Governor

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New Members

Each week we’ll endeavour to list new members as we get to hear about them. Geoffrey Adcock, Rotary Club of Eaglehawk, Classification: Computing. Lee Wapling, Rotary Club of Melbourne, Classification: Financial Planning. Jacqueline Cook, Rotary Club of Hawthorn, Classification: Recruitment & Employment Services. Gail Bouchaud, Rotary Club of Keilor East, Classification: Homewares Importing. 40+ Rotarian

his week your intrepid scribe headed west to interview Rotary Club of Sunshine legend, Ray Carlton. Ray Tsuggested that we meet at a 'sacred place'. He gave me a Melways reference and it was with some trepidation (and, after a little bit of panic in Barkly Street, Footscray) that I eased the Beemer into a spot behind the John Gent grandstand. It was the Whitten Oval and this little princess was suddenly deep in the heart of Bulldog country. The Western Bulldogs. Ray met me at the door and, after a tour of the inner sanctum where Ray assumed that I knew about some people called 'Teddy' and 'Charlie' and '1954', we settled into the bistro and the house special – veal parmigiana. A 'middle of the day' merlot always improves my demeanour, so after two gulps and a few pleasantries, I commenced my grilling of young ‘56 pink Caddy - there were but a handful in Australia when Ray Raymond … helped Charter Sunshine Rotary Club C: How did you become involved with Rotary? RC: As co-owner of Sunshine Advocate I was invited to join as a Charter Member when Sunshine Rotary was formed in 1956. Prior to that I'd been a Charter Member of the Lions Club of Sunshine. I also managed the family's other suburban newspaper, the ‘Williamstown Chronicle’ and was unable to take up a similar offer with the Rotary Club of Williamstown when it was being chartered in 1949. C: What is the biggest project you've been involved with as a Rotarian? RC: Sunshine Rotary's 3H Program to eradicate TB from Tibetan Refugees in Dharmsala in Northern India. Publishing the DG's newsletters for three years was also very time consuming. (Hah – tell me about it! -C) C: What are your earliest memories of football and/or cricket and who are the greatest players that you've seen? RC: My earliest memory of test cricket was listening to a radio broadcast from England during the Test Series of 1932 on a crystal radio. Anyone who saw ‘The Don’ would have to place him as No. 1, and of the pre-war era, Stan McCabe, Bill O'Reilly, Wally Hammond, Bill Ponsford, Harold Larwood, Leary Constantine and Bert Oldfield. The post-war period would include Keith Miller, Denis Compton, Neil Harvey, Gary Sobers, Clive Lloyd, Shane Warne, Ray Lindwall, Ricky Ponting and the Chappell brothers. My first memory of football was running out with Yarraville as their mascot in 1929 (a premiership year). In football I can't go past Ted Whitten, Gary Ablett and Haydn Bunton, Snr. They would have been greats in any era. Pre-war Syd Coventry, Bob Pratt, Dick Reynolds, Herbie Mathews, Laurie Nash, Jack Regan, Norm Ware. Post-war would include Don Cordner, Ron Barassi, John Coleman, Alex Jesaulenko, Peter Hudson, Bob Rose, John Nicholls, Leigh Matthews, Gary Ablett, Michael Voss and lately Chris Judd, Adam Goodes, Nathan Buckley, James Hird, and of course Chris Grant (who was robbed of a Brownlow Medal). (Wow, that's encyclopaedic … of those, the only one I knew – then again, I'm not sure – but there was a Ron Barassi I knew who owned a pub in Richmond … maybe it was him -C) C: What is the biggest change in Rotary that you've seen? RC: A relaxing of the formalities of the organisation. The introduction of women into membership - an extremely good thing.

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C: Tell me about an exciting or unusual event that you've been involved with … Rotary or otherwise? RC: My war service with the RAAF provided some of the most exciting and hair-raising experiences - attacking a Jap sub off our east coast is high on the list. Several crash landings also set the blood pumping. (I should think so! Whew, I think I might have another merlot thanks Ray -C) C: Over 50 years as a member … what do you particularly enjoy about the Sunshine Rotary Club? RC: The fellowship and commitment of members, and the diversity of cultures they bring to the club. C: As a charter member, you've seen the lot ... tell me about some of the interesting and inspirational characters you've seen at the Club. RC: The late Roy Calder - the driving force behind our successful 3H program; John Avent – for his ability in overcom- ing personal tragedy; Angelo Borzillo f–or his drive, evolving from cane cutter to successful businessman. Add to this over 200 men and women who have given ‘Service Above Self’ … they have all inspired me in some way or other. C: Of all the events in history, at which you would you have liked to have had a ringside seat? RC: With the advent of television we've had a ringside seat at most major events over the last few decades such as the landing on the moon, so we've become a bit blasé. However, the signing of the Magna Carta because I believe that it was the beginning of democracy, or the Charge of the Light Brigade because of its futility but absolute heroism. I would liked to have been at both. C: What are your interests outside of Rotary? RC: My family, consisting of two sons (one deceased), a daughter and ten grandchildren (aged 24 years to 8 months), are my major priority. Currently, I am treasurer of my local RSL, which has an annual turnover of approx. $5 million. I organise our Anzac Day and Remembrance Day Appeals and I am a Delegate to the RSL State Confer- ence. I am an avid cricket watcher and a fanatical Bulldog supporter (ex-player of both at a reasonable level). I play lawn bowls with the RSL during the summer months. (Ray, you're exhausting me -C) C: Why is being a Rotarian special to you? RC: I have been fortunate to travel extensively and the opportunity to make-up has enabled me to meet Rotarians in their own homes and see their cultures at first-hand, not just as a tourist. It has also enabled me to give something back to my community. C: Marilyn Monroe … not an exceptional actress and none of her films were classics. Why do you think she still has a leg- endary aura, even though she's been dead for over 40 years? RC: The manner of her death and the people involved left a lot to the imagination – and conspiracy theories always help. (I can only but agree … as a news-hound, I love a little conspiracy -C) C: As a printer, you've seen the industry go through many changes. What was the biggest breakthrough? RC: The invention of the linotype in the 1890's and high-speed web-presses made the task of producing newspaper on a large scale and enabled the man on the street access to the printed word, but the biggest advance over recent times has come with computers which has given rise to home publishing. C: We're building a ‘good eating spots’ manual. Do you have a restaurant or a cosy pub that you could recommend in the Sunshine area? RC: Having an Indian daughter-in-law, a Malayan-Chinese daughter-in-law and a Russian daughter-in-law, I am very fond of Asian cooking and my favourite restaurant in Sunshine is the New Delhi in Hampshire Road. (Sounds great … I love a good vindaloo -C) C: If your life had to be likened to a song, what would it be? RC: I would love to be like Frank Sinatra and say ‘I Did It My Way’ but that would be untrue. Off-hand I can't think of a song that describes mediocrity. Also being tone-deaf is a handicap. (I think that you're being very harsh, Raymond -C) C: Complete the following: Life is … RC: “Only froth and bubble, but two things stand like stone - Kindness in another's trouble, courage in your own". I know it's trite but it's TRUE!! C: My secret talent is … RC: … unfortunately there isn't any. C: The way to my heart is … RC: … my ex-wife says I haven't got one.

We hear a lot about not wasting water, conserving power and looking after our environment. The biggest waste of all time however is the untapped potential of people! Wes Truscott, 2007

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C: Iam… RC: …an optimist. I still believe that Footscray will be Premiers …. one day (Note: Ray says 'Footscray' and not 'Western Bulldogs' -C). C: Rotary is … RC: … one organisation that has the potential to bring peace to the world - it crosses all boundaries and has no alle- giance to any religion or creed. It is based purely on humanitarian principles. C: Rotarians are … RC: …among the finest people I have met. Other people had told me that Ray was a real doer. Not given to lengthy theorising … much more inclined to getting stuck in and ‘getting the job done’. Be proud of me … I know who Teddy is now. As I left the Whitten Oval, a large statue of 'the man' commands a central position in the complex. Recalling what Ray had said about the former Footscray champion, I'm sure that Ted would have been delighted to know that in his team there was a 'straight ahead' 1929 Yarraville mascot and RAAF man who has spent nearly eighty years of his life wishing only good times for the mighty Bullies. I still don't know who 'Charlie' is, though … In The Media

Pain Of The Dance Pays Off

wo dancers with the Ballet Theatre of Victoria, who have withstood tears and pain for their art, have been rewarded Twith scholarships from the Rotary Club of Flemington. Kylie Bishop, 21, of Altona Meadows, and Breeana Flannery, 16, of Templestowe, train at the Kensington-based statewide institute under director Leeanne Rutherford. Bishop, who ''started late'', said the $1500 scholarship would buy her a plane ticket to audition with companies in Europe. She has only studied ballet for three years but already tutors others. Flannery, who has studied full-time for four years, will save her money for a few years before going overseas. ''When Leeanne awarded us with the scholarships she said it was because we worked our butts off. They were her words. You've got to work hard, otherwise it's not worth it,'' Flannery said. Bishop said technical perfection was an unattainable goal the pair strived to achieve. ''You can't get an A-plus on a test. We're not necessarily the best at everything, but we work really hard. It's 10 per cent talent, 90 per cent hard work.'' Ms Rutherford said the pair's persistence had literally paid off. ''I chose both these girls because their work ethic is phenomenal. They work really hard all day. Kylie is older than Breeana and she works almost every night tutoring students. They're here every Persistence pays: Breeana day, they never miss, they work 100 per cent. And that is 99 per cent of what they need Flannery and Kylie Bishop will to make it in this game.'' head overseas with their Rotary scholarship prize Source: Moonee Valley Community News, August 6, 2007 The Childhood Hero

ith Father's Day nearly upon us for another year, I recalled a chat I had with one of the 'gals from school' while enjoying the WYarra Valley last weekend. I think her story speaks for all of us wanting to celebrate our Dad's on 2 September -C.

Searching for the familiar face of the man I had come to visit, a deep sense of sadness enveloped me. It was lunch time at this nursing home and standing in the dining room, I looked closely at the people eating their meals in silence. Frail, ageing and arthritic hands worked painfully and deliberately at the mechanical process of lifting food from plates to mouths; faces devoid of expression other than the evident concentration on the task at hand. I knew many of these people rarely had visitors, and some didn't have families left at all. Yet, locked inside each person was a lifetime full of

Rotary District 9800 Issue 9, 27 August 2007 Page 4 Networker We care. We share. We all gain. experience, wisdom and unique stories… stories of human endeavour - exceptional and ordinary - everyday battles, happy times and sad times. I looked across at the man I knew well. He was a widower in his early eighties. A stroke had left him without speech, paralysed down the right side and an amputee. Yet, despite such cruelty and adversity, this man's spirit has remained strong. A man with a fierce determination, his incredible courage and cheeky smile endears him to all who come to know him, even though he can't speak. Defying medical logic, this soldier of life even learnt to walk again after his leg had been amputated. Twice a week he would manoeuvre himself into his motorised scooter to journey across town and undergo a strenuous physiotherapy program. In between visits, he had his own secret exercise routine. It was a gruelling and painful campaign, but this man wanted to walk. After a full year had passed, he took his first steps with a prosthetic aid: an elderly man experiencing the same thrill as a small child discovering the wonder of motion. So few people knew about this man's incredible feat... it wasn't newsworthy, he hadn't broken a world record, or climbed the highest mountain. Yet, his endeavour was no less courageous. He can't tell you what he went through, nor share his thoughts, dreams or memories. But at least I knew him before the stroke, and I knew his stories: not re- markable stories, just simple ones of an everyday, hardworking bloke who loved life. As a younger man, he lived a full and adventurous life. A larrikin by nature, he embraced all that life brought his way. Gifted in sport, he played football with the best, raced cars, boxed competitively, played tennis, cricket and golf and went fishing as often as he could. Gifted with his hands, he also enjoyed building and mending things - he was a man who loved his shed! An electrician by trade, he started his own business and worked hard to make a living. He was no angel, but he loved life and had a deep, abiding respect for all living creatures... animals trusted his gentle nature. The ladies too were attracted to his wild, but gentle ways, his devilish good looks and keen sense of humour. He married at twenty-five and had two children. Struggling with the financial burden of a young family, he accepted more complex and major projects that took him into the rural community. He brought electricity to many farms on the West Coast of South Australia and through this work, began a love affair with the land in this region. Ultimately, he would move his family to Port Lincoln. This man loved his children. He gave them adventures that were worthy of storybooks. He took them on journeys into the wilderness of the Coorong; taught them how to fish; schooled them in the ways of nature; collected seashells; scoured the beach for jetsam and flotsam; and told them fantastic tales of pirates and buried treasure. They looked up to him in the way of adoring children who see their fathers as genuine heroes, capable of superhuman feats, armed with encyclopaedic knowledge, and gifted with the magic of Merlin. His wife loved him. Their marriage was not perfect, but what marriage is? It was difficult for him to change his roguish ways. Popular with his mates, and given to enjoying a drink or two, he was often waylaid after work. His wife found it difficult not to bicker when he came in late. She too worked and was always tired from the strain of juggling work, home and children. They needed the income though that would secure a good future for their children. Despite the pressures, their love endured. When he had his stroke, their bond grew even stronger. She nursed him and cared for his every need. He looked to her for strength and felt secure in her presence. When she passed away suddenly at the age of sixty-nine, he mourned deeply the loss of one who had been his companion for forty-eight years. This grief he held inside, unable to share its burden. Being a man with so much inherent determination, he has carried on with his life. His vascular disease marches relent- lessly on, and he has once again been forced back into a wheelchair, the joyous few months of being able to walk well and truly gone. Yet, he still smiles. As I stood there thinking about this man's enduring spirit, my gaze turned to others in the room. I wondered about their lives and their stories, and felt humbled in their presence. Why is there a dilemma today in looking after our aged? Is society so infatuated with youth, focused on wealth creation and driven by fast-paced technology, that there is no time to give, or interest in hearing these people's stories? Has the breakdown and disbursement of the family unit meant there is no longer the ability or the desire to take care of them? Are they pushed aside, out of sight because we don't have patience? Maybe we don't want to be reminded of what's ahead of us, or perhaps we fear the reversal of roles that happens with ageing parents. Yet, these precious beings should be revered, their wisdom coveted, their stories, no matter whether ordinary or not, gathered and passed on to future generations. Returning from my thoughts, I gazed back at the man I had come to visit. He was looking at me, recognition translating into a glorious smile. Once more he is the hero, the man of superhuman abilities, limitless knowledge and magical powers. He is my father. Quip Corner Happy Father's Day! Drawing on my fine command of language, I said nothing.

Rotary District 9800 Issue 9, 27 August 2007 Page 5 Networker We care. We share. We all gain.

Rotary Clubs Pack It In

he enthusiastic members of Point Gellibrand, Maribyrnong Highpoint and Port Melbourne Rotary Clubs spent TSaturday, 19 August sorting, packing and loading goods for deserving recipients in the South West Pacific. The work was carried out at the Rotary 'Donations in Kind' warehouse in Paramount Road, West Footscray and super- vised by Bill Dagg (the driving force of the program and a member of RC Point Gellibrand). Bill's military and logistic training, coupled with his sense of humour ensured a worthwhile, fulfilling and fun day was had by all. Keen members and friends sorted brand new and lovingly hand knitted baby clothes donated by companies and individuals with compassion and a willingness to help others. A shipping container was loaded for East Timor, a place of recent turmoil and strife, where the eagerly antici- pated goods include warm clothing, baby clothes, woollen hats, tools, weaving and spinning machines and basic household wares. Items packed at DIK are requested by the end recipients to ensure needs are filled without unnecessary supply. DIK in Australia grew out of the desire of returning project volunteers from the Solomon Islands schools project to continue to offer material support to the schools and communities where they were operating. DIK now operates nationwide and has sent surplus school and library materials, medical equipment, tools, typewriters, sewing ma- Bill Dagg mustering the troops chines, computers etc. throughout the Pacific, to Asia and even to Africa and Russia. Visiting Rotarians from overseas, returned and other volunteers, as well as overseas business contacts are all sources of information as to the needs for items in developing countries. DIK currently has projects running for Zambia and Papendetta (PNG). There is also a project for Tanzia which is looking for a club. Are you interested in a project, a worthwhile day out or just dropping in to see what DIK is up to? Then come and join 'Dagg's Army!'. Contact Bill Dagg 9318 5313 or 0425 741 045, or via [email protected] The Point Gellibrand Rotary Club meets at the Royal Victorian Motor Yacht Club for a couple of hours on Tuesday eve- nings. If you are interested in having an enjoyable time in a fabulous venue with exceptional company. Please contact President Graeme Kennedy (9397 7182), Secretary Henry Fitzell (9399 8253) or Membership Director Kevin Gunn (0418 997914). Notices & Events

RC Gisborne Meeting Cancellation

Please note that the Rotary Club of Gisborne will not be holding their normal club meeting on Tuesday, 28 August 2007. Meetings will resume as usual on Tuesday, 4 September 2007.

RC St Kilda Meeting Changes

To support the dinner being hosted by RC Prahran, the St Kilda club meeting has been re-scheduled from Tuesday, 28 August to Monday, 27 August To continue their support of other clubs, St Kilda have also re-scheduled their meeting from 4 September to Friday, 7 September to support the Footy Colours fund raising event - a state-wide initiative they became involved with via RC Frankston - that the Dick Whittington Hotel is putting on at their suggestion. RC St Kilda have booked a table for dinner for 10 to 12 people with a focus on fellowship rather than the usual meeting format.

Rotary District 9800 Issue 9, 27 August 2007 Page 6 Networker We care. We share. We all gain.

District Foundation Seminar & Workshop

istrict Foundation Committee Chairperson, Chris Don, invites all Presidents, Presidents Elect, Foundation DChairman, International Chairman and new Rotarians to our 2007 District Foundation Seminar & Workshop. All aspects of our District's Foundation Programs will be covered by the District Committee Chairperson and Regional Zone Executives. Active participation from delegates will be encouraged. This will be held on Sunday, 23 September from 9.00am to 12.30pm at International House, Royal Parade, Carlton. Contact Chris Don on 9312 6933 or via email at [email protected].

Camp Getaway Working Bee

ollowing the Rotary Camp Getaway Board Meeting, it was decided to hold a general working bee on the weekend Fof 1-2 September (yes, we know it's Fathers' Day). There are many general tasks that need doing on the site, so any help from your club, even for two hours, would be most appreciated. Activities will commence at 10.00am on the Saturday. RC Essendon North will be on site in force, undertaking a 'painting' working bee at the caretakers cottage.

ARH Symposium & BBQ Luncheon - Camp Getaway

ll Rotarians are invited to the Australian Rotary Health Research Fund's first 2007 Symposium at Camp Getaway A(Axedale, just outside of Bendigo) on Sunday, 9 September from 9.15am. The program will be conducted by Directors and Regional Coordinators from all Districts in Victoria. This is a unique opportunity to put forward your ideas and have your questions answered. Speakers will include: º Associate Professor Greg Snell on organ transplantation º Adam Walker, ARHRF PhD Scholar º Veronica Kyle, Indigenous Scholar Stay and enjoy a barbecue luncheon following the Symposium (please RSVP by 02/09/07 for catering purposes.) To RSVP or for further information, please contact Judy Nettleton on 9427 7233 or at [email protected]. For those unable to attend on 9 September, our next Symposium will be on 14 October 2007 at Deakin University (details will be published again in Networker closer to the event).

Turn The Town Teal

ere is an early heads up about the STUPENDOUS inaugural dinner dance, auction and raffle to be hosted by the HRotary Club of Melbourne South on Friday, 19 October at International Receptions, Brighton.

Proceeds from the 'Turn The Town Teal' event will go to OvCa Australia to be used in the fight against ovarian cancer. Cost is $110 per head (includes dinner and drinks). Bookings through [email protected] or Robyn at the Rotary Club of Melbourne South on 0412 561 254. Visit the OvCa website for more details - http://www.ovca.org/sections/events/evt_rotary.php

New Member Information Workshops

ave you joined Rotary in the last couple of years? Or perhaps you'd just like to know more about the Rotary Horganisation, regardless of when you joined. Then you're invited to come along to one of the sessions we are holding and be informed, educated and inspired by Rotary's capacity to help others throughout the world.

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These workshops will be a combination of presentation of Rotary information combined with time spent in discussion groups with very experienced Rotarians who can share their knowledge with you. Come along and ask all the questions you may have about what Rotary does in other clubs, in our District and in the rest of the world. Find out all about the opportunities that exist within Rotary to make your contribution to a better world. 9.30am-12.00pm Sunday, 7 October, International House, Parkville 9.30am-12.00pm Sunday, 14 October, Eaglehawk Please contact PDG Ann White to register on 9699 5538 (ah), 9682 7777 (bh), 0402 306 790 or [email protected].

A Good Yarn To Spin

he Rotary Club of Richmond's Slade Literary Award night for an original essay by secondary students will be held Ton Monday 3rd September 2007 at The Amora Riverwalk Hotel, 649 Bridge Road Richmond, 6.30pm for 7.00pm. Guest speaker is Claire Saxby, a Melbourne-based writer of fiction, non-fiction and poetry for children. She was awarded a May Gibbs Fellowship Creative Time Residency, which she undertook in Adelaide in June of this year. The late Henry Slade, a Richmond Rotarian for over 25 years, was the Founder and Managing Director of the Slade Knitting Mills, a landmark in Richmond. He wanted to establish an award that would improve the writing skills of local young people, harness their creativity and foster interest in the written word. And so the Slade Literary Award for an original essay by secondary students was born. This award has been managed since its inception in 1993 by a committee within the Rotary Club of Richmond and continues into its fourteenth year with the ongoing support of the Slade family. Aimed at year 9 and 10 state secondary school students, the award draws on creative writing pieces from within local schools. The teachers forward the best efforts to the committee. Independent judges then select the winners and the prizes are presented at a special dinner of the Club. Guest speakers at the dinner have included many well-known, award-winning authors and playwrights - John Mar- sden, Hannie Rayson, Joanna Murray Smith and Jane Burke, winner of the 2006 Children's Book Award for Older Children, along with a well-known ABC Radio broadcaster and television presenter, Virginia Trioli. Because many of the schools in Richmond and surrounding areas have a very high population of newly arrived mi- grants and indeed, Henry Slade was himself a migrant, the Committee has in recent years included a prize for the best entry by a student with English as their second language. Entries have recently been sought from schools outside the Richmond area among similar state secondary colleges. For more information contact Rotarian John Liddell (H) 9898 9792 or [email protected].

The Costume Collection - 200 Years Of Australian Clothes

Recently featured in The Age, The Costume Collection is a private museum housing 200 years of Australian clothes. Housed in a private warehouse/residence, this unique collection has been built up over the last 20 years. The Rotary Club of Richmond invites you to join them on Thursday, 13 September 2007 to view The Costume Col- lection at 19 Greenaway Street, Bulleen, and meet the tour leader, Loel Thomson, the collector herself. º Tours:10.30am & 2.30pm - Luncheon: Midday º Cost is $40 per person which includes lunch at a private home in Balwyn where you will be greeted with a glass of champagne, enjoy convivial company, a light luncheon, coffee and cake. (Address details provided on booking.) The Boroondara Kindergarten (located in the public housing estate in North Richmond), its families and children, will be the beneficiaries of this unique occasion. RC Richmond is very excited to have formed a partnership with this kinder which is situated amongst the public housing in Richmond. The children come from diverse backgrounds and many of their families have experienced extreme disadvantage, including refugee, asylum seeker and homeless backgrounds, and the home language of the majority of families is not English. The kindergarten is perceived as a model multilingual preschool, and is nationally and inter- nationally recognised. The staff are inspirational in their work with the children, many of whom have been traumatized by past experiences.

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RC Richmond are raising funds to sponsor children and provide essential equipment, as well as volunteering their time to meet with the families, provide support and assist with hands-on tasks around the kindergarten. The children, their families and the staff are deserving of our support. Please call Josephine Cowling on 0438 305 611 for bookings for further details, or Annie Wysham on 0419 100 287 or via [email protected].

Rotary & Community Service Radio Show

This is a fantastic opportunity for your club projects to receive free promotion on the radio to the listening audience of 3WBC 94.1FM (Whitehorse Boroondara Community Radio) during the Rotary 7 Community Service show each Friday 6.00 - 8.00pm. The objective of the show is to give the audience a better understanding of the projects and activities Rotary and other community service organisations support. This is another opportunity to engage the Rotary theme - Rotary Shares - by sharing the "Rotary doing good in the world" message with the listening audience. Brian Bloomer is the Producer and Presenter of the show and is a member of the Rotary Club of Canterbury. The ca- sual chat/interview format is interspersed with 70's, 80s and current rock/popular music thrown in for good measure, with a mostly Australian content. Brian interviews Rotary special guests about their experiences such as Rotary Youth Exchange students, Rotary Group Study Exchange teams, Rotary club members, and special project leaders, along with many other projects in the 9800 and 9810 Districts. 3WBC 94.1FM has official transmission coverage in the inner eastern suburbs of Melbourne (Kew to Box Hill and North Balwyn to Ashburton), with spill over into Melbourne City and out to Ringwood and south to parts of the Morning- ton Peninsular. The promotion of your projects or events can be in the form of on-air announcements from your project flyer or an in-person interview on air. Stay tuned to 94.1FM for an upcoming interview with our current District Governor, John Davis. The offer of FREE publicity is open to all clubs. Simply contact Brian on 0405 124 958 or via [email protected]. You can also visit the Rotary Club of Canterbury web site - www.canterburyrotary.org - and click on the Radio Show tab for this year's program and additional information. Safe Water & Medical Aid In The Philippines

he Rotary Club of Brighton Beach have spearheaded a number of international projects in the Philippines since T2004. With an initial objective to bring safe and clean water to an impoverished area of the Philippines, and provide medical aid to an area displaced by the devastating eruption of the Mt. Pinatubo volcano in 1991, this small club has done more than that.

After the eruption, more than 75,000 families from Porac were resettled in the towns of Madapdap and Bamban Tarlac, provinces of Pampanga, in the Cen- tral Luzon region of the Philippines. But the availability of clean water remained a critical problem as further tests showed the water was infected with toxic chemical wastes. Women and children suffer dis- eases such as leukemia, central nervous system disorder, physical deformities, congenital heart disease and speech impairments. A number of women have breast cancer, forms of cysts and 19 suffered repro- ductive system problems, such as spontaneous abortions, stillbirths, infantile deaths. In 2004, Ruth Carlos - Martinez, the International Chairperson for Brighton Beach Rotary Club was looking for an opportunity to involve the club in a worthwhile overseas project. Ruth contacted and met with then Rotary District Governor of 3790 - Dr John Cadaing in Central Luzon Philippines who advised her to work

Rotary District 9800 Issue 9, 27 August 2007 Page 9 Networker We care. We share. We all gain. with the Rotary Club of Metro Clark. A sister club agreement was forged and Ruth visited a number of sites in the Phil- ippines with co-International Chair, Rebecca Bowman. Since then, the following projects were completed and others are in progress: º November 2004 - Due to the illnesses in the area, Ruth requested a Medical Mission with Amherst Medical Cen- ter, New York along with provisions of medicines/personal needs/food supplies. Planning for a matching grant started. º October 2006 - With the club donation, 'Safe Water Project 1' commenced with the installation of a water pump at Porac Mt Pinatubo Resettlement, assisted by the Rotary Club of Metro Clark. Ruth conducted final inspection. º November 2006 - 'Safe Water Project 2' commenced with a site inspection and planning of water pipe connec- tions, again to provide clean, safe water to the malaria / sickness infected three AETA mountain villages of San Martin, Sta Rosa, Burog in Tarlac. º Met with the Rotary Club of Las Pinas to assist with literacy and self development of the Marillac Hills Center for Sexually Abused Homeless Teenagers, Manila. º January 2007 - Shipped donations with the assistance of 'Donations in Kind' to the impoverished areas of the Aeta community in above villages and Marillac Hills. º March 2007 - The Matching Grant was approved for Safe Water Project 2 of US$30,000 with assistance from RAWCS and Rotary Foundation-D9800. º May - August 2007 - Planning and supervision on installation of 5092 metres of water pipes and three water head substations to connect three villages to the main spring water reservoir on top of the mountain, with a total coverage of 15 km. Ruth worked with the Rotary Club of Metro Clark to raise an additional US $13,000 which was funded from personal/private donations. It is strongly believed that the above successful projects attest to the goals and truth behind Rotary which is "We make a living by what we get, but it is through efforts and wilful tenacity to help the underprivileged that we make a life by what we give." Mel Grey’s Membership Corner

As Membership Month draws to a close, it's important to remember that recruitment is an ongoing responsibility for each and every one of us. The people you approach will find numerous benefits to membership - as you well know - and here are just a few of them: º Gaining a global understanding of humanitarian issues that impact on us all. Promoting peace is one of Rotary's foremost objectives. º Weekly Rotary club programs keep members informed about what is taking place in the community, nation and the world. Rotary's expansive network of clubs and programs provides extensive opportunities for service and cross-cultural exchange. º Today, with more than 31,000 Rotary clubs in some 165 countries, Rotarians have friends wherever they go. Rotary helps to build a sense of community as well as enduring individual friendships. º The founding principle of Rotary was to provide a forum for professional and business leaders. Today's membership includes leaders in business, industry, the professions, the arts, government, sports, military and religion who make critical decisions and influence policy. Rotary is a great source for networking and professional development. Making a difference in communities locally and worldwide means we need new members - so please keep up the good work for the rest of the year! For further information on Membership, visit our District website www.rotarydistrict9800.org.au, or email Mel Gray at [email protected].

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